Fringe 2024 - Day 7 In Brief

The day in Threads

Another evening with a solid line-up of shows all at the Phoenix for Wednesday Fringe.

Threads review, mnfringe show 31, The Banana Wars: it was fun to revisit Derek Miller’s show in this new context of 2024; he still makes me feel like an unread philistine most of the time but he doesn’t judge so it’s fine - 5 stars

Threads review, mnfringe show 32, A Horse Walks Out Onto the Stage and Dies; yes, I went back and saw it again, it’s worth repeated viewings; also just wanted to go as a regular person, not take notes, and catch details I missed the first time - still 5 stars (my full 5-star review)

Threads review, mnfringe show 33, What You Need To Do Is! Very grateful to be at the improv life-coaching show with a couple of dozen Fringe artists who were game to volunteer and take the stage so I didn’t have to :) Fun show, though, and you get some stretching in while you’re at it - 4 stars (my Fringe Top 10 write-up)

Threads review, mnfringe show 34, Daddy Issues - Brilliant. Allison Vincent takes cardboard, sound FX, and herself and conveys her father's decline and the way for a time it consumed her life. Because she's such a gifted storyteller, she populates this world with countless characters, including herself, who are not her today. The precision involved in this comic tragedy is breathtaking, but because it also gives the gift of distance from the raw horror of it all, tears are not required. My thanks - 5 stars (my Fringe Top 10 write-up)

 

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.