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2026 Audience Reviews
Member Reviews
The following reviews were submitted by Fringe Member: Jeanie Johnston
Company: The Winding Sheet Outfit
Show: A Confluence of Magical Arseholes
Venue: Rarig Stoll Thrust Theatre
Historical Goofiness from The Winding Sheet
If you have seen any of The Winding Sheet Outfit’s Fringe shows in the past, you’ll know they have a knack for finding something—or someone—from history and turning it into something wonderfully theatrical. This time, their subject is W. B. Yeats. The central theme of A Confluence of Magical Arseholes is Yeats and his ongoing feud with Aleister Crowley, another poet who is particularly outstanding for his crudeness—and for his enthusiastic use of the word c*nt in his poetry. The play takes us into Yeats’s world at The Golden Dawn, a mystical order that the actors mercilessly skewer with gloriously over-the-top portrayals of its rituals and ceremonies. The whole thing is played with exactly the right amount of ridiculous seriousness. From there, we follow Yeats on visits to the local Irish pub, where his fellow literary friends Bram Stoker, Arthur Machen (“He’s Welsh!”) and George Bernard Shaw (“Yes, I wrote Pygmalion!”) play musical instruments and sing about what is going on in Yeats’s life. It is an inspired device that keeps the story moving while adding to the wonderful absurdity of the whole production. And then there is Maud Gonne, the love of Yeats’s life—“I loved the pilgrim soul in you.” She moves in and out of his life while repeatedly saying NO to his proposals of marriage, largely because, as far as she is concerned, poor Yeats simply isn’t revolutionary enough for her. Meanwhile, Amber Bjork, breaking the fourth wall throughout the entire show, directs the proceedings from the side of the stage. Her presence adds another layer of controlled chaos, as though someone needs to at least attempt to keep this collection of poets, mystics, revolutionaries and magical arseholes under control. All in all, I believe this is some of the best acting I have seen at the Minnesota Fringe Festival this year to date. Yes, it is quirky. It is goofy. It is crude. It is rude. In fact, when I left the theatre, I was amazed the air in the room hadn’t turned blue. But most importantly, it is incredibly funny. Go and see A Confluence of Magical Arseholes. Have a good giggle. Have several. And don’t be surprised if at some point you find yourself having a full-on belly laugh.
Company: Octoberdandy Productions
Show: Sound and Noise and Bodies
Venue: Theatre in the Round
Quirky Fun!
A fun, uplifting show with lots of joy, ukeleles and a squirrel!
Company: The House in the Woods
Show: Quadrilogy: A Sabathani Benefit Game Show Extravaganza!
Venue: Theatre in the Round
Game Show Fundraiser!
If you enjoy game shows, you will love this. If you don't enjoy games shows, you will love where the money is going. This is a benefit for Sabathani and all the good work they do in Minneapolis. Opening night at 10:00 PM is a true bummer for any show opener. That said, our two hosts did a fantastic job! I would drop the lego part (hard to see what they are doing) and giving a parting farewell into the microphone (most people are just too shy to do this)!