The Very Model of a Modern Monster Scientist
Mermaid Productions
Created by Reverend Matt's Monster Science
The Fringe-favorite Monster Science series returns, with the secret and surprising history of Elora Riley, Science Assistant, and tons of the monster facts and PowerPoint you have come to rely upon!
Venue: Augsburg Studio
Tagged for: Kid Friendly, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Spoken Word, Storytelling, Historical Content
Content Warnings: None
AND
Monster Science’s Greatest Hits
Monster Science Productions
Remounts of five of the award-winning, Fringe-favorite Rev Matt's Monster science shows - different every night! As chosen by some people I found! Watch this space for the lineup!
Venue: Augsburg Studio
Tagged for: Comedy, Sci-Fi, Solo Show, Spoken Word, Historical Content
Content Warnings: None
Here’s another artist that I could have sworn I already had on a previous Top 10 list, but it was only because he was so central to getting me through those two pandemic Fringes online.
I didn’t really have Top 10 lists in those two years because, well, everything was weird, and it was hard to know if this whole “watching theater on a screen” thing was going to work at all.
However, if there was anyone who was going to make a smooth transition to this interim way of doing theater, it was Matthew Kessen and Rev. Matt’s Monster Science lecture series. In fact, his shows were some of the most fun I had in either of those Fringes.
The conceit is that Rev. Matt is doing a very well-researched and detailed lecture on something completely fictional - dragons, gryphons, creatures from mythology (or the Black Lagoon) - or real but fantastical - dinosaurs, Muppets, etc. - or even theological (looking at you, Satan). If it’s outside the realm of the normal, Rev. Matt will study it and report back. The delivery is deadpan, the power point presentations are very tongue in cheek. The man is smart and funny as hell - and Fringe comedies that are actually funny are rarer than we’d like them to be, so I appreciate the opportunity for a double dose (or even six part dose) of monster comedy.
That’s because between the time I originally decided to put Rev. Matt on this list and Fringe preview night (when I was finally getting around to blogging about Monster Science), he picked up another show. Originally, he didn’t get in through the initial lottery and was stuck on the wait list, but a friend had a spare slot and so they offered to be his producer. And then another last minute slot opened up, so he decided to do another show composed of popular monster lectures from the past. Here’s the rundown on Monster Science’s Greatest Hits:
Thursday 8/3: 10pm
“Sympathy for the Devil” - the surprising history of the Christian Lucifer!
Sunday 8/6: 4pm
“The Ten Best Dinosaurs!” Just precisely as advertised, as determined by science!
Tuesday 8/8: 5:30pm
“Mother of Monsters” - the inspiring and tragic story of Milicent Patrick, original designer of the Creature from the Black Lagoon!
Wednesday 8/9: 8:30pm
“The Snake Around the Earth and the Wolf Who Eats the Sun” - the amazing monsters of Norse mythology!
Saturday 8/12: 7pm
“The Ecology of the Muppets” - the works of Jim Henson!
And here’s his two Fringe previews:
One of Kessen’s bios reminds me that this very blog, Single White Fringe Geek, said of past shows, “I could not stop grinning the whole time Rev. Matt was talking.” Reliable amusement is in short supply, so I’m glad we get a lot of Monster Science to choose from this Fringe.
Also, Kessen is in the cast of yet another Fringe show, Fargo Allegro
Check out his various online platforms if you need further convincing that this style of comedy is for you. It’s definitely for me. I’m once again very much looking forward to it.
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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