The day in Threads
Today was that day in the Fringe Festival where you start to feel like you might be hitting a wall as an audience member, and I start to hear about shows that are closed now that I’m just not going to get a chance to see (sigh). Still, the shows I am seeing continuing to be a strange but entertaining mix.
Threads review, mnfringe show 35, Antistrophe to an Andro-Sapphic Tragedy; as you might imagine from the title, this is a modern tale with mythological roots; not really a tragedy, which was welcome; lovely production values, but something about script, names, relationships that I found confusing; could totally be a “me” thing but, for me… 3.5 stars
Threads review, mnfringe show 36, Two Bowls of Cereal and Some Bacon: Wow. Just amazing. Mahmoud Hakima tells the story of the shadow cast by his abusive stepfather over his family thru the eyes of himself as a boy from age 4 to 13; finely detailed, sharply observed, performed with wonder punctuated by moments of anger and terror; mesmerizing - 5 stars (my Fringe returning favorite write-up)
Threads review, mnfringe show 37, Welcome to the Food Chain: Rob Ward does another singing, dancing, high energy comedy cabaret, this time about animals that eat people; wild, a little too wild for some audience members :) sound FX at very high volume and not always clear; songs using accents harder to hear/understand; still good weird fun, though - 4 stars
Threads review, mnfringe show 38, Stroke of Genius: Pantomime Masturbation Throughout Performing Arts History - If you're in the mood (and I was) to be amused by an elaborate dick joke, then this fake class is the show for you. Also takes a swipe at foundations with very specific axes to grind. Added warning for flashing lights of (fake) police. This show does take a sharp turn at the end, but still very clever and entertaining - 4 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.
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