Threads review, mnfringe show 16, Dutch: Made In America, a hallucinatory scramble through the personal history of former President Ronald Reagan; still sorting out my own brain on this one but it’s a unique vision, sharply executed; worth seeing for the sock puppet FDR ventriloquist routine alone, but there’s SO much more going on - 4.5 stars
“Are you going to say the line, or are you going to tell the truth?”
One reason I’m always game for another new play from Alex Church is all his scripts are wildly different from one another. They all very much come from the same mind, but the style and subject matter veer off in many directions, constantly playing with the art form. Dutch: Made In America is a prime example. Directed by Hannah Leatherbarrow, Alex is also onstage acting in the role of Ronald “Dutch” Reagan, America’s 40th president, alongside Stephanie Kahle who plays multiple roles including Reagan’s mother, second wife Nancy, and even former president Jimmy Carter, who Reagan replaced in the White House.
“If I lie to you, you’ll never know.”
Dutch: Made In America isn’t a biography, though biographical details abound in every minute of its run time. It’s not a historical documentary, though America’s history is very much at issue here as well. It’s as if Church took biography and history here and shoved them through a funhouse mirror. What came out on the other side is a fascinating grab bag of scenes, only fleeting moments of which could be construed as taking place in reality. But it nonetheless unpacks some of the influences on Reagan’s life and development - the former actor who takes on the role of his life as the President of the United States of America.
“Does the Lord demand perfection? No. Just obedience.”
Dutch: Made In America is going to hit people in very different ways. For the chunk of the Fringe audience that wasn’t even alive when Reagan was president (1981-1989) (or alive, since he died in 2004), this is probably a completely different experience than for someone like me, who lived through the Reagan presidency (and how he botched the government response in the early years of the AIDS epidemic, for instance). Dutch isn’t a hatchet job on Reagan, but it’s not a love letter either. It’s a distorted lens through which to view old Dutch, but even distorted lenses allow us to see - and perhaps in some sense, see more clearly.
“Imperfection is the most American thing of all.”
Leatherbarrow’s direction moves the production along at an almost dizzying pace, but that’s deliberate. Both actors grab and hold your attention, and Kahle is especially notable in her ability to slide from one role into the next and back again without missing a beat. You’re always clear who she is and what she’s up to, which helps anchor the show even when she’s throwing Dutch and/or the audience off balance. Shout-outs to costume designer Mariabella Sorini and sound designer Sam Faye King for create the look and environment of this strange world the characters inhabit (though the initial fuzziness of the sound from one of Reagan’s old war movies was a little hard to fathom at the top - I’m inclined to blame Hollywood for that, though, more than the sound design - but I did feel like I might be missing some of the thesis of the show in its opening moments). And a special nod to Robert McGrady for the FDR puppet in a wheelchair for the menacing ventriloquism sequence.
“Fact and fiction must live in the same house, but sleep in separate beds.”
Dutch: Made In America is a sharp Fringe production of a challenging and intriguing new play. It’ll give you a lot to talk about (perhaps even argue about) after the lights come up. See it for yourself and then come tell me what the heck you think was going on there. I’m still trying to sort it out. But I like a challenge.
4.5 Stars - Very Highly Recommended
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment