"Starved": The Astonishing True Story of the University of Minnesota Starvation Experiment

Excellent writing, compelling acting

Bravo to the playwright for knowing just how to present this fascinating true story to an audience. The balance of factual information and human emotion--with complex characters brought vividly to life by a great cast--make the story absolutely riveting and deeply moving. This play's themes will get you and your friends talking for sure!

Heartbreakingly Beautiful

I was brought to tears more than once by the visceral retelling of this true story/experiment. The different personalities and struggles of the main “subjects” shone through in their emotional performances. The experiment leads had their own struggles and occasional crises of conscience, which were depicted well by the actors. A truly stellar show that I would recommend wholeheartedly!

Compelling look at human nature under pressure

Starved is a fascinating look at how extreme conditions affect individuals psyche, sense of self and purpose, and relationships with others. A true story worth experiencing with acting that grabs you and holds tight.

No kidding that this is an astonishing story

I'm so glad that this story is being told. I had never known about this "experiment" and not too many people had. This play is performed by such professional and capable actors, and the script is excellent. The numerous scene changes occur with complete fluidity, with no need to move props. So much is learned from the story even as it entertains. This is a very strong dramatic work.

excellent insight into the cost of pacifism

A well written play with competent acting that explored a mostly forgotten aspect of the cost of war. A stark presentation of both the physical and emotional toll on men who were consciousness objectors during WW2. I wish there could have been a Q&A session with the writer, director and actors. I left with so many questions, so many conflicting emotions. It's not a professional, polished, big budget production like "Oppenheimer" that I watched a few days ago, but this short, spare play addresses so many of the same weighty questions: How can an individual or a group of people working together, make a difference in the face of the evil that is war? And how does that work change their understanding of themselves and others?

Left Me Hungry For More

One might expect a certain amount of lecture in a show about a scientific study, but there was remarkably little of that in this piece. The performers playing the experiment's subjects did a fantastic job portraying the progressive changes the lack of food wrought on them and the scientists did a good job mixing the aloof quest for knowledge with humanity (though less so than their co-stars). An excellent exploration of the moral bounds of scientific inquiry. I certainly appreciated my lunch more after watching this and would certainly recommend!

Lots to think about

I was hesitant to see "Starved," since I thought it would be too graphic for me. I found, though, that it was psychologically graphic, but not overly physically graphic. Though I have lived in Minneapolis for over 35 years, I was not aware of this experiment. It was well told, and we especially appreciated the part at the end giving future researchers guidance for experiments of this nature. I'm still thinking about it 'the morning after.'

"Starved" Delivers a Powerful Punch

"Starved" brings to life an astonishing chapter of history that many might have only encountered in books. While I had read about the University of Minnesota Starvation Experiment, witnessing it unfold on stage was a whole different experience. The actors delivered performances that were both gripping and heartfelt, making the audience feel every pang of hunger and every ounce of determination of those brave volunteers. Richard Chin's script, rooted in the harrowing true story of post-WWII humanitarian challenges, was brought to life by Pat O'Brien's direction in a manner that was both enlightening and visceral. The play doesn't just recount historical events; it immerses you in the emotions, the challenges, and the ethical dilemmas faced by those involved. The visual representation of the story, juxtaposed with the actors' compelling performances, offers a raw and intimate look into human resilience and the lengths individuals will go to for the greater good. "Starved" is not just a retelling—it's an experience, one that resonates and lingers long after the curtains fall. A Riveting Dive into History: "Starved" Delivers a Powerful Punch

Wish it Could Have Been Longer!

This show has the potential to be quite powerful. As it is, there are a lot of short scenes that don't quite leave enough time for the audience to adequately connect with the characters - something that I think is even more important than normal in a show that's got such a serious subject matter and which depicts actual historical people. I think that this could easily be twice as long. The cast slants heavily male, which is a product of the subject matter, but I'd really love to have seen all of the characters fleshed out a bit more (forgive the turn of phrase, I'm a comedian at heart). There's a huge amount of attention given to props and set pieces, even so far as having actors eating actual food which I found to be a nice touch considering that the actors eating the real food aren't portraying subjects of the experiment. Those portraying subjects subsist entirely on imaginary food. The cast did a great job of building intensity as the show progressed. There seemed to be a bit of a tech issue toward the end, but what's a Fringe show without one. I hope that more people take the opportunity to see this show, and I hope that the producers consider remounting and giving this the runtime that it deserves. NOTE: I have a friend on the cast of this show.

I learned so much!

I hadn't heard about these states before and was intrigued by the show premise. I learned a lot and the characters had a good range of acting. As mentioned in another review, I too was interested in hearing how food got reintroduced and also I was wondering how long the starvation study went on for. But I suppose any show that convinces the audience to research more is a win!

History with Heart

Richard Chin's script is the perfect combination of historical documentary and heartfelt storytelling. The audience is treated to a history lesson you won't hear in school, along with lived in, uniformly excellent performances across the cast under Pat O'Brien's thoughtful direction. The test subjects convincingly portray the gradual impacts of the starvation experiment in ways that are surprising, upsetting, and sometimes a bit comical. I am left wanting to learn more about this fascinating experiment. Go see this show!

“Starved” is excellent

I’ve seen a lot of Fringe shows over the years. This is one of the best.

A Gut Punch and Heavy Show

I'm only not giving this a 5 because I was really hoping to find out more about how folks were re-introduced to food. As someone who has had multiple eating disorders, I was intrigued by the very concept of this That being said, I wish this was a 2 hour show! Everyone was great in this; and portrayed the emotions well. While they couldnt physically show these volunteers were starved, their physical portrayals had me believing it. I also enjoyed interrupting scenes with the case study bits from the scientists. Very nice touch!

Sobering and Relevant

Everyone needs to see this show. Not just Fringe - everyone. At least everyone in the United States needs to see this show. “Starved” is an incredibly impactful tale that explores not just the history of a woefully dark & unexplored chapter of American history, it touches on the ethics of using what can only be described as “controlled suffering” as a means of scientific advancement, as well as shining a blinding light on the physical, mental, and emotional toll of long-term starvation. And it’s brutal. That should go without saying. Pretty much anything involving the phrase “UNIVERSITY [BLANK] EXPERIMENT” is almost always going to be a terrible & harrowing story. The Stanford Prison Experiment comes to mind. This show is not for the faint of heart. So why do I believe that everyone needs to see this show? Because starvation is still an ongoing problem on a global scale. It is estimated that around 9 million people die of hunger & starvation on Earth annually. Fun fact: did you know the United States produces enough food annually to feed the global population 1.5x over? That means with the food made here, the ENTIRETY OF HUMANITY can eat regularly for a year with enough food left over for half the planet’s population to have seconds. This means that every death and every second of suffering due to starvation on Earth is 100% preventable. And thanks to the experiment discussed & dramatized in this show, we have a complete & detailed understanding of the effects of starvation on both the human body and the human psyche. So we know how starvation affects people…and yet the people in power allow it to continue, both domestically & globally. Unfortunately, I do not have an actionable solution to this crisis. However, there are a ton of experts & scientists that do, yet nobody with the means to enact change is listening to them. Looking at you, Elon Musk. Think about that the next time you hear about Dunkin Donuts forcing their employees to throw away all the uneaten donuts at closing. Food for thought.

Hungry for More

A little slow at times but it's a great subject. I hope the creators work with MPT to film a documentary that can flesh out the details. Was the data collected used by Twin Cities cereal companies to develop formulas especially for starving populations?

how to measure the worth of sacrifice

When a country goes to war and you're a conscientious objector, or "Conscie", what kind of sacrifice can you commit to be in league with your fellow countrymen as they are conscripted off to put their life on the line? What kinds and degrees of shame and erosion of conviction, esteem, and more are experienced when undergoing an experiment like this? Wars are forced on the people of a nation-state against peoples of another nation-state, and so are the choices "available" to the people who are coerced into consent into the conditions of warfare. This show unfurled the story of the UMN experiment with a strong array of performances from characters at different sides of this experiment. Maybe not so much the individual public perception of such an experiment, though the focus was better left on those in the lab, the volunteers of their own war against war.