Everything Bagel
A National Poetry Slammer celebrates comic tales of whip crackers, guardian angels, misfit muppets, 80s pop music, Russian cuss words, and finally breaks the sexual tension between 2 appliances from The Office.
Venue: Strike Theater
Tagged for: Comedy, Solo Show, Spoken Word, Storytelling
Content Warnings: Adult Language, Crude Humor
Michael was on my 2008 pre-Fringe Top 20 list for his last Minnesota Fringe show “Roofies In The Moccachino,” and ever since he’s been splitting his time between other locales like Alaska and Iowa. So it’s nice that he’s making a return to our Fringe with a new show. Others have called him:
“inexplicable but totally hilarious”
“brilliantly funny, unpretentious and engaging”
“a true mutant”
“a dork knight”
“the perfect mix tape of poetry”
“alchemical magic”
His Fringe postcard fleshes things out a bit more:
"National Poetry Slammer Michael Shaeffer dunks chunks of comedy and spoken-word revelation, celebrating tall tales of whip-cracking archaeologists, piano-playing guardian angels, the perks of bone and nerve damage, misfit muppets, the greatest year in pop music, creative ways to lodge a complaint at your (formerly) favorite bar/restaurant, a sky-diving Anton Chekhov, and finally breaking the sexual tension between two of Michael Scott’s appliances from The Office. Come for the cross-cultural cussing, stay for the tacos."
He even gives you a rundown of the show on his Fringe page:
“What the audience can expect: An evening of fun, silly, sometimes poignant slam poems and stories, starting with the notion that Harry Connick, Jr. is not only a great pianist, but also a guardian angel as a side hustle. The comedy quickly segues into a bit inspired by the American episodes of The Office, from the point of view of Michael Scott's 13" plasma tv. It's a love poem. Then we have a celebration of Indiana Jones and tacos, moving on to the perks of bone and nerve damage, learning to swear in Russian from a resurrected Anton Chekhov, defending the greatest year in pop music (you're close--you're very close!), a horrific reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood as directed by Fede Alvarez, a creative way to file a complaint against your (formerly) favorite restaurant/bar, parroting Don Music (my favorite muppet) in a sestina, and gleaning important lessons from the everything bagel featured in this year's Best Picture: Everything, Everywhere, All at Once. The show really does have everything! Adjust for density. I consider the show appropriate for ages 16 and up. The script has 7 F bombs, but only three of those are in English. Come enjoy the cross-cultural cussing, pop culture, and Diablo sauce!”
So if that sounds like your kind of wordplay, I’ll see you there.
UPDATE 8/3: Michael did a Fringe preview (complete with cameo from phillip andrew bennett low) on Fringe Eve, the night before the festival began:
Here's some handy links to this year's Top 10, and Top 11-20 Lists, plus the full list of all returning favorites at this year's Fringe, plus a link to all the 2023 Minnesota Fringe Festival coverage.
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