Sub-Total
2026 Audience Reviews
Member Reviews
The following reviews were submitted by Fringe Member: Carroll Vuncannon
Company: Melancholics Anonymous
Show: Watership Down
Venue: Rarig Stoll Thrust Theatre
toothless, gutless, crotchless
Adaptation is a magnificent and deeply challenging artform to work in. The artist must balance truth and form while delivering the core meaning to a brand new medium. At its best, the new medium can be used to shed light on new or alternative readings and elements, deliver a space for creative play, hopefully reach new audiences, and emphasize the work’s importance in the first place. Melancholics Anonymous’s Watership Down unfortunately only succeeded at two of these. The folksy music was beautiful all the way through, and the actors clearly had a good time on stage. When it comes to making meaning, however, these rabbits drowned. I personally love a breakneck pace, but it was wholly inappropriate for a source material steeped in the dreary, moody, bleak, and even hopeful. By removing any of the challenging elements of the novel (the rabbit violence was slapstick for god’s sake), it feels like the production completely missed what makes the source material so compelling in the first place and even obscured the very tenets of the story’s metaphors. The overreliance on narration to deliver how the rabbits were feeling and what they were doing reminded me more of adapting a wikipedia plot summary than a literary masterpiece. I think the audience would have been better served if the actors had tried acting instead. On that note, I understand the narration was used as a tool to fit in all the book’s plot elements, but when used to such a degree, why adapt Watership Down at all? This could have honestly succeeded better as an original work or adaptation of something more appropriate to the company’s aims. If they were going to deliver a sanitized piece of children’s theatre why insist on something so narratively action-heavy and philosophically dense as Watership Down?
Company: Good & Plenty Productions
Show: Small Epiphanies
Venue: Open Eye Theatre
Fringe demographics
The audience for this one was unbelievably enthusiastic and really loved and held on to every word from Jan’s mouth. I totally understand: she’s an effective and engaging storyteller and her accordion selections were beautiful. I do think, however, this was kind of a demographic miss for me. Reminiscing over the Carter and Obama era presidencies, combined with her thesis on the necessity of punitive justice, well, let’s just say that despite all her (justified) righteous fury, her political analysis is still fairly lackluster. This normally is only one element of many that goes into a show, but it definitely colors the whole ethos of this production. This show is going to speak straight to an older generation who values respectability politics.
Company: Tiger Love Studios LLC
Show: The Choose Your Own Adventures of Turtle Boy
Venue: Mixed Blood
I will take a bullet for Turtle Boy
Never have I so quickly emotionally bonded to an inanimate object in my life. Even calling Turtle Boy inanimate feels exceptionally wrong, considering how much life Emmanuel breathes into this tiny, beautiful puppet. Just thinking about my sweet, little Turtle Boy son, I vow to avenge all who cross him or would deign to even consider leaving a 4.5 kitty review or less. In all seriousness, this really was one of those very special shows that fills your heart by the time you get up from your seat. Only real suggestion for fellow short audience members is to make sure you’re either front row or elevated enough in the back. Turtle Boy plays pretty close to the ground (stage floor), and you’re not gonna want to miss even a moment of Emmanuel’s beautiful puppet articulation.
Company: Levani
Show: A Magician
Venue: Open Eye Theatre
Endearing and “Magical”
Jordan’s heartwarming storytelling mixed excellently with his impressive magic tricks! What really stood out to me over other magic I’ve seen is just how soft and sweet Jordan was in his presentation. I really appreciate his kinda dorky demeanor and how he weaved his own vulnerabilities into the show itself. If anything, I’d love more of that!
Company: DOLLY WHO?
Show: DOOZY
Venue: Open Eye Theatre
DOLLY WHO’s best yet
I’ve been following Destiny’s character Dolly Who at several venues in the Twin Cities over the past year, and DOOZY is my favorite show yet! Don’t worry, all their shows are self-contained, so no context is needed to enjoy this excellent recreation of a slightly twisted children’s show. Speaking of the slight darkness imbued into the DOLLY WHO brand, I’ve always appreciated how Destiny never makes that THE POINT, to subversively parody educational programming, but rather does something much more sophisticated, using it as just one of the many colors they paint with. Destiny really captures a sweet madness, and their puppet and prop work is truly second to none, making every aspect of the show a treat to witness and thoroughly heartwarming.
Company: Third Space Theater
Show: BE NOT AFRAID
Venue: The Southern Theater
Staggering highs and one rather unfortunate low
I really admire so much about this production and the kind of work Third Space has been doing. This show has everything I really care about: it’s got enough content and subtext (rare!) to keep me thinking about it post-show, plus some truly exceptional staging that lends itself to expressionistic artsy fartsy bullshit that I live for. As high as those highs are though, and as much as this company is still a must-see in my book, it would be remiss of me not to mention the main element that they completely whiffed on. This is a show that, in grounding itself so explicitly in a specific time and place, necessitates thorough dramaturgy from both the writer and director. It would be a little dramatic to say, “my culture isn’t a costume” in this situation, but the fact that I’m thinking it is pretty damning. The core cast, minus the riggers, were completely unbelievable in their roles. Both the dialogue and acting would have benefited from the bare minimum of research into the setting. I understand the folly to assume the United States is pretty much the same everywhere, but you gotta remember that with how vast and varied it is, it can be more like completely different countries in some ways. In that regard, it’s obvious to do some research if you’re planning on portraying Ecuador or something, and that same courtesy should be extended to rural America.
Company: Combustible Company
Show: Machinal
Venue: The Southern Theater
Expressionist and I love it!
This is my own personal bias, but I’m a real sucker for any kind of show that leaves you thinking. The visual language, the biomechanics, the performers and director really nailed it. You won’t like this if you’re not into weird expressionist shit, but if you are, this is a Fringe highlight for sure!
Company: Special When Lit
Show: Bury The Leads
Venue: Mixed Blood
Top-tier improv talent
Title says it all. Nissa and Sam really flexed on everyone here, showing us how it’s done. Their quick thinking, exceptional expressions, phenomenal physicality, and most importantly dedication to commit to a character, even if the scene takes a minute to rev up, they didn’t reach for emergency cheap laughs, but were solid enough to let the scenes breathe. Really really good.
Company: Todd Sullivan
Show: Maniac
Venue: Rarig Nolte Xperimental Theatre
How do I even review this?
Maniac is an exceptional showcase of how to both clown and do crowd work. Todd’s really mastered his craft, and I even learned a couple vocab words from this show! Every minute was entertaining to the last. I do wonder, however, if this is the kind of show I’ll ever think about again, as it felt largely without point. Still, a great performance all around!
Company: Sugar Throw Theatre
Show: Magical Athlete: Stadium Showdown
Venue: Rarig Stoll Thrust Theatre
The joy of stadium sports
This was a grand old time, getting to watch a bunch of goofballs race around stage, act silly, and trip each other up. They really captured the joy of rooting for a home team, especially enhanced in how the stakes are completely meaningless and the game rules themselves simple and silly. Loads of fun.
Company: The World Crime League
Show: M
Venue: Barbara Barker Center for Dance
M or Y?
I’d like to lead this review with how blown away I was by the shadow puppetry and the ways the production used said puppetry to simulate 3D space, imply new scenes, and even highlight iconic imagery. That alone is worth the entrance and only enhanced by how exceptionally some of the actors worked at playing multiple roles and inhabiting them in unique and distinguished ways. Where this review takes a turn, however, is in the question of why? Why would someone adapt to stage a film such as M, one known for revolutionizing it’s medium, particularly the areas of camera, light, and sound, absolutely not for its script, character work, or anything else one would come to a stage production for.
Company: Black and Foxy Co
Show: Ember
Venue: Rarig Kilburn Theatre
Radiance from the margins
We all love theatre, but so little is spoken of how intensely shitty and easily weaponizable this industry and medium is to anyone in any kind of margin. That’s not even to mention the myriad types of sociopaths and sickos who don the mantle of the educator for the express purpose of wielding their authority over others. Anyways, this show is not about them, but rather finding one’s own inner light even from the margins. Excellent piece, loved hearing everyone’s stories. See this show!
Company: The Other Productions
Show: Bangs!
Venue: Rarig Kilburn Theatre
a real BANGer of a show
I really loved getting to see all the aspects of a drag show, both on stage and behind the scenes. This is fierce queer art, and I am here for it. I do feel, however, that some elements, like the titular tragedy in question, felt somewhat disconnected from the rest of the show. Not to project my own expectations, but I also kinda wished there was more pitch black humor in regards to the shooting itself. As is, it felt a little self congratulatory at the end. Still though, what a proud bastion of queer art and well worth your time at fringe.
Company: Jake Mierva
Show: I Will Become The Silver Surfer. I Will Protect You.
Venue: Rarig Stoll Thrust Theatre
This is what Fringe is about
I didn’t think I’d cry during a poorly sung rendition of the Pokémon theme song tonight, but if that’s not fringe, I don’t know what is. Grateful this show exists.
Company: milk rat orchestra
Show: Fly Tape
Venue: Rarig Kilburn Theatre
Exceptional Acting & Writing
This script is a tour de force of subtle details and unspoken tragedy. My wife and I were talking about the show well into the evening, discussing the many layers of characterization the actors imbued into the roles, the various behaviors and communication patterns they clearly picked up from their broken childhood, and a very bold final decision one of the characters makes. The audience interaction bit was unfortunately underutilized this evening, as no one grabbed the money used for bidding, but I spoke with an actor and they sounded like they had a plan to alleviate that for future performances. My wife and I might even go again to just really see the full extent of how that plays out. Who knows, we’ll probably even pick up on further details too, as some of the jokes didn’t even actually hit me until the scene had already passed. Definitely a worthy fringe show, especially if you’re in the mood for something real.
Company: Band Practice
Show: DON'T BE SCARED
Venue: Rarig Nolte Xperimental Theatre
Vacuous Masterpiece
This show was quite possibly the dumbest thing I have seen ever (complimentary). It was absolutely brain dead clowning that delivered a laugh a minute until it veered into the realm of poignancy. After all, if Stacy and Gunta can make it, then maybe there’s hope for me too. If this doesn’t win Fringiest show of the festival, I am either in for a great week or I will riot in the streets.
Company: True Men Productions
Show: Castrati: A Tale of Two
Venue: Barbara Barker Center for Dance
A UNIBROW triumph
I’m always hesitant to attend Fringe musicals, but this was a real smashing success! The humor was all over the place in the best way possible, combining the most lowbrow, goofy jokes, like bad Italian pronunciation and testicle punchlines, with actually fairly sophisticated highbrow blink-and-you’ll-miss-it references. Brilliant on so many levels and such a hoot to boot! My only constructive criticism is that some elements, like the over reliance on narration or even really a total lack of staging, felt more like concessions to an unfinished production than fully deliberate artistic decisions. Don’t let that dissuade you though, this was the perfect show to kick off my fringe with, and if even half the shows this year can rise to this quality, it will be nothing short of a fringe festival triumph.