Here's a handy list of coverage of the shows I've seen so far at the Fringe that are HIGHLY Recommended, getting either 4 stars or 3.5 stars, with links to full-length reviews as they're posted, in alphabetical order by title:
4 Stars - Highly Recommended (aka, Excellent)
Threads review, mnfringe show 30, Dream of Me: a young grieving widow, aided by her scientist best friend, gets a chance to see her dead husband again in her dreams; no spoilers, but when has using science to mess around with the brain’s concept of reality ever gone off without a hitch? - 4 stars (my Fringe Top 10 write-up)
Threads review, mnfringe show 52, The Princess Strikes Back: One Woman’s Search for the Space Cowboy of Her Dreams; title really covers the territory; girl who grew up on Han Solo in Star Wars becomes working actress still searching for someone worthwhile with whom to share her independent life - 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)
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 28, Teen Wolf Killed My Grandma;
first, as expected, I’m definitely the target audience for this; 2nd,
there’s a LOT going on in this show, and all the production elements are
there to make it happen; needs a bit more polish but as is, it works
most of the time - 4 stars (my Fringe Top 10 write-up) (my full review)
Side note thread: Prize for worst mnfringe audience members goes to the elderly couple clearly visible in 2nd row at Teen Wolf Killed My Grandma;
not enjoying themselves, they snarked like they were home watching TV;
then decided to get up and leave 5 min. before the end, while actor
giving speech about death of grandma; stay classy, folks
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 1: Transition: a Story of 2 Trans People Becoming Themselves;
exactly what title says PLUS amazing live orchestral music and singing,
which lifts everything basic to another level - 4 stars (my Fringe Top 20 write-up) (my full review) (my full 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)
3.5 Stars - Highly Recommended (aka, Good Job Plus)
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 22, Defibrillator - a woman’s heart stops for a still unknown reason, destabilizing for a time herself, her family and the larger community around her; a compelling and personal tale made strangely less compelling and less personal by choices in writing and presentation; still well worth seeing, they just reshuffled all the milestones and then didn’t stick the landing - 3.5 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)
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) 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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