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2026 Audience Reviews
Member Reviews
The following reviews were submitted by Fringe Member: Joseph Homrich
Company: Albino Squirrel Productions
Show: It's-a-Me, a Musical!
Venue: Rarig Stoll Thrust Theatre
Warm, funny, brilliant
This play packs a full hour with a warm, funny, sweet story. There's never a lull. Never a dull moment. The actors were wonderful, their faces overly expressive as one expects at a family show. Singing, choreography, costumes, jokes - all wonderful. We are so lucky that shows like this are part of Fringe.
Company: Old Dog Theatre Company
Show: Guy For Now
Venue: Rarig Nolte Xperimental Theatre
A guy sweeps the theater floor and fun ensues
Absolutely delightful show with a brilliant, energetic cast. Basically a guy sweeps the floor of a theater then fun, hilarity, and delight happens. A must see.
Company: Moral of the Story
Show: A Real Piece of Work
Venue: Theatre in the Round
Sweet, lovely, funny, and fun
I had so much fun. This play is just a delight. Everyone in the audience was having a great time throughout the performance. So funny. So brilliantly acted. And at the end of the play a wonderful nod and touching advocacy for community theater. For those of us that have the privilege to participate in theater, the last scene is so touching and so beautifully written. Bravo to everyone involved in this show. Thank you for a wonderful evening. This is a must see.
Company: Combustible Company
Show: Machinal
Venue: The Southern Theater
Simply WOW
Owing to the nature of Fringe, over the years I have seen shows that one can describe as bad, really bad, okay, competent, nicely done, and even I’m impressed. Then once in a great while, I get to see a show that I call WOW. This play is a WOW. This play is billed as a modern adaptation of the 1928 German Expressionist play Machinal and it has all the look and feel of German Expressionism. Viewers will recognize similarities to Fritz Lang’s Metropolis in the opening scene of the play. The colors are black, white, and metal. The actors wear black jump suits. The staging, props, choreography, singing, and acting are all first rate. Even more impressive, I’m told this is Renee Hatton’s directorial debut. This play is shown at the Southern Theater and it’s difficult to imagine a better space in which to perform it. It’s the perfect backdrop and sets the perfect mood. If you see this play, be forewarned. This is heavy stuff. There is no comedic interlude. The tension never stops. This play is drama. And it is simply fantastic. For fans of German Expressionism or those who just want to see a really fine Fringe production, this is a must see. I’m only giving it 5 kitties, because the software wont let me give it 6.
Company: The Redmond Players
Show: That Was Shakespeare: A Revue
Venue: Rarig Kilburn Theatre
Only for the uninitiated to Shakespeare
So the play is just as advertised. A kindly uncle introduces his skeptical teenage niece to the works of William Shakespeare. He's trying to sell to the uninitiated and he uses all the old tropes. He overexplains some scenes. He translates from Shakespearian English to Modern English. He tries to convince her that if you get into the spirit of the scene then eventually understanding of the language will follow. And so on. And Consequently, that is really the only situation in which this play works. If you have never read Shakespeare or seen a play performed or if you are trying to introduce someone to Shakespeare who has never encountered it then yes see this play. But in no other situation will this work. If you are a lover of all things Shakespeare, as am I, it just doesn't work. As far as the performance goes, the interaction between the uncle and the niece is kind of wooden and uncomfortable, but everyone else is doing a remarkable job. It's obvious to me that these folks know their Shakespeare and their passion shows. And their Modern English retelling of the Julius Caesar assassination scene is really funny, and arguably worth the price of admission. They also perform and analyze Shakespeare's sonnet "Shall I compare thee to a summers day". They assert this is his most famous sonnet. And no doubt they are correct. For the record I don't know why people like that sonnet, whos message seems to be; "you're my girlfriend. You are really pretty. And that's all that matters". I humbly suggest that another Shakespearian sonnet is even better. What's more, this sonnet celebrates enduring and mature love over transient beauty. And whenever I try to read it aloud, I find myself crying. It's sonnet 130 which reads as follows; My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips' red; If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. I have seen roses damasked, red and white, But no such roses see I in her cheeks; And in some perfumes is there more delight Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. I love to hear her speak, yet well I know That music hath a far more pleasing sound; I grant I never saw a goddess go; My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground. And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare.
Company: Michael Shaeffer
Show: Glengarry Glen Elvis
Venue: Theatre in the Round
Not sure where they aimed. But they missed
Some of you are probably familiar with the David Mamet play, or even better the 1992 film he wrote, that featured a fantastic all-star cast. In the play a former salesman is sent to motivate a team of salesmen in one particular office by firing the low sellers after a given trial period. And mean tactics, drama, and lots of profanity ensue. Okay, so here we go. This play is about this happening in Minnesota. No wait. That's not right. Because the only nod to Minnesota is the appearance of a rural Minnesotan stereotype making one or two bad, predictable jokes and wearing fishing gear. Let's start again. So this play is an adaptation of the original Mamet play. No, that can't be right. Because aside from the profanity, there is no tension or other resemblance to the original play. Okay, so is this play just a vehicle for an Elvis impersonator to sing a few songs? No, that's not it. Because cast member Michael Shaeffer only sings a few songs (he does so brilliantly by the way). So maybe none of that is correct. Maybe it's just a comedy (since there is no drama). Well that can't be. Because I only heard one or two laughs the entire performance. Well, I guess I'm not really sure what this play is about. But my wife and I were hopelessly bored about 5 minutes into the performance. I kept waiting for a plot, a point, some humor, or something. But it never arrived. I'm not sure what this play was aiming for. I only know that it missed. I sincerely wish the cast better luck in their next play because i think they gave it a good effort.
Company: The World Crime League
Show: M
Venue: Barbara Barker Center for Dance
Competent remaking, but that's about all
If you haven't seen it and are a fan of Film Noir, definitely check out the first film on that genre's list, the 1931 German classic "M" starring Peter Lorre in the role that first landed him notoriety. This production is a competent adaptation of that film. But that's really all it is. It's competently done. Fine acting and clever shadow work on a screen attempts to set a dark mood. But unlike the film, this production failed to create a sense of urgency or unease.
Company: Melancholics Anonymous
Show: Watership Down
Venue: Rarig Stoll Thrust Theatre
Melancholics Anonymous does it again!
Another fantastic production from Melancholics Anonymous. This is a wonderfully engaging and funny adaptation of the class story "Watership Down". The cast is energetic and engaging. Music, singing, dancing, acting - all brilliantly done. As for choreography, somehow they manage to perfectly fill the stage with movement and some clever staging. A must see. As a previous reviewer stated, this is probably the best theater I have seen all year. I first read Watership Down in college and the production brought back some wonderful memories as it hits upon all the important highlights and themes from the book. In case you are wondering, a "Down" is from an old Celtic word for a hill. That's what it means in this context. That's a little bit of trivia I didn't learn until more than 30 years since I first read the book.
Company: Local 574
Show: HELL ON WHEELS: The Winter Strike of 1934
Venue: Barbara Barker Center for Dance
Wonderful combination of gravity and humor
A wonderful show about the importance of labor unions, the struggles to form them, the politics within them, and the neverending struggle for the rights of workers; all shown through the lens of 1934 history. The cast was brilliant and energetic. The first show ran with barely a hitch or stumbled word. Music, blocking, script, scenery - all masterfully done. And fun bits of humor to keep things moving along and keep the audience engaged. Heads up - two benches are available on stage for those folks in the audience (like me) who would like a small audience participation role near the end of the performance. If you volunteer, note that you will be called upon to act the part of audience members listening to a union organizing speach.