The day in Threads
Some return trips to favorite shows to begin the day, then rounding out the evening with all new shows including improv, karaoke, dance, and a very funny new play.
Threads review, mnfringe show 43, Godzilla's Not A Dinosaur; back again to hang out with Abby Bland and her Godzilla focused jokes and poems; bigger crowd this time and some hearty laughers - still 5 stars
Threads review, mnfringe show 44, A Horse Walks Out Onto The Stage And Dies; yes, I have now watched the horse die three times; there are times when you watch a performance and think “This is the beginning of something” Very much looking forward to whatever Sam Sweere does next; helluva debut Fringe creation - still 5 stars (my full review)
Threads review, mnfringe show 45, Teen Wolf Killed My Grandma; yes, since I was in the neighborhood I made a return trip for their final performance; the show has grown, plus a little extra emotion for the finale; audience was really into it and the cast, even the Grandma puppet, was riffing in reply to vocal audience moments; lots of fun and well worth the 2nd trip (my full review)
Threads review, mnfringe show 46, Improv Movement Project presents CollideScope: super inventive improv with no words, just musical accompaniment; very physical group of improvisors; extremely amusing, even if there were a handful of times I had no idea what was going on :) - 4.5 stars (my Fringe returning favorite write-up)
Threads review, mnfringe show 47, Take The T Out: what an adorable fun show; a couple of audience members even got in on the karaoke action; Silly Miss Tilly is a fabulous host, and the young singers really give it their all; sometimes hard to hear in plain old dialogue when they’re not on the mic but overall the show is a really good time - 4 stars (my Fringe Top 20 write-up)
Threads review, mnfringe show 48, old growth: well, that was… brief; not complaining, just surprised, I can use the break between shows; just over 1/2 hr of dance with a woodsy theme; impressive tree man puppet, plus some cool fireflies; hard to put my finger on it, kind of a sameness to a lot of the choreography; lighting design could have used a little more… light; still, nicely done overall - 3.5 stars (my Fringe Top 20 write-up)
Threads review, mnfringe show 49, Yo-Ho-Hum: A Pirate's Midlife Crisis - supposedly rich guy thinks he belongs in leadership (in this case, pirate captain) so he buys a ship, promises crew a high salary (which he never gets around to paying), steals from others to enrich himself, doesn't care if anyone else around him lives or dies (and they do), makes and loses powerful friends by treating them carelessly, is convinced all his failures are successes (sound familiar?); crazy good cast, witty script - 5 stars
Here's some handy links to coverage of shows I've seen in the Fringe this year getting 5 and 4.5 Stars (Very Highly Recommended), 4 and 3.5 Stars (Highly Recommended) as well as the shows ranking 3 stars or less; also links to this year's Top 10 list and Top 11-20 list, also a full list of all returning favorites to this year's Fringe, plus a link to ALL the 2024 Minnesota Fringe Festival coverage.
While I have your attention, please VOTE :)
Minnesota is currently in the early voting period
for our Congressional and local primaries (I had the U.S. Senate,
Congress, and the Minneapolis school board on my ballot) - final day to
vote in the primary is Tuesday, August 13th, but you don't have to wait
until Fringe is over, go vote right now :)
Early voting for the Presidential Election itself in Minnesota starts on Friday, September 20th.
We're lucky to have a lot of time to get our voices heard, so cast your
vote, and then make sure everyone you know and love is registered and
gets to the polls to vote. Election Day, your final date to vote, is Tuesday, November 5th.
As a queer playwright and theater maker, I want a government that's compassionate and competent enough to keep us all safe and healthy, keep theaters open and running, and personally, I'd just like to be legal myself and keep the weirdos out of government and out of my personal business (and the things I post on this blog, for instance). We all have our reasons, so let's make sure we get the leaders we need and deserve, and get our friends, family and co-workers to raise their voices, too.
Find where to vote and what's on your ballot (with links to candidate websites) and other resources at the Minnesota Secretary of State's website.
For other resources on how to register, volunteer or donate, locally or nationally, check out Vote Save America.
Vote. Raise your voice. We're not going back.
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