Dutch: Made in America

Absolutely Incredible WOW

The symbolism, acting, and writing was just mind blowing. This is a true piece of live theatre, congratulations.

Absolutely incredible performances

Both actors nailed it. And the script, so crisp. Flawless.

Go see it !!!

It is clear that every part of this show was crafted with intention and directed with clear aesthetic vision. Alex Church is a smart, imaginative playwright to keep on your radar and is an equally wonderful performer. There wasn’t a single boring part of this show and I would watch an extended version.

A smart and incisive look at a very flawed man.

It's hard to talk about Ronald Reagan. The man is such an icon in American politics--worshipped as a near-god on the Right and reviled as a purely malevolent force on the Left--that any discussion of him as a actual, breathing human being is virtually guaranteed to go off the rails almost immediately. (I hate to come off as a both-sideser, but most of the problems progressives trace back to his time in office date back much further, and his actual policies throughout his presidency would have today's Republican party screaming "RINO!" at him constantly).

Alex Church's "Dutch" avoids looking at the fallout of Reagan the Politician and focuses on Reagan the Person, guiding us through an increasingly hallucinatory series of interactions with figures from his life (all played to great effect by Stephanie Kahle). It attempts to chart how Reagan, the son of staunch New Deal Democrats, who helped organize student protests in college and who rose to become the leader of the strongest union in Hollywood could possibly morph into the eternal torch-bearer of an ideology that delighted in burning down unions and gutting the welfare state.

"Dutch" presents us with Reagan not as an icon, but as a middling actor rapidly aging out of the Western films that fueled his modest career, increasingly embittered by the perceived rejection of his peers and so desperate for approval that he would sign on to any ideological part that would give him status and power. Church is not doing a dead-on impression of Reagan, which is good, because whatever version of Reagan you have in your head is the result of some blown-out story you were told about him anyway. The show constantly plays against the image you have pre-installed about just about every character in the show: FDR is a frantic sock puppet hurling insults at young Ronny; Jimmy Carter is presented not as the kind and charismatic Sunday school teacher we think of him as today, but as the swaggering, scheming black hat that Hunter S. Thompson described as "the meanest SOB I ever met"; Nancy Reagan is not the sweetly out-of-touch grandma keeping a personal astrologer on hand and telling kids to "just say no", but the hard-driving, sly manipulator that spawned a thousand salacious rumors during her own ill-fated acting career; and ol' Dutch himself is shown not as the bold, moral, family values leader his party touted him as, but as the indecisive, regretful divorcee who barely involved himself in the lives of the children from his first marriage and left a boozy, womanizing trail all over LA.

It's all fascinating, clever and well acted and worth your time to see, even if you don't know anything about Ronald Reagan, or if you think you already know everything you need to know about him.

Alex Church is underrated

Was I mouthing “wtf?” And “is that, are we?” The whole time…yes. Did it turn out my assumptions of what was going on were accurate? Yes. To be this lost and also exactly where I needed to be at the same time is an experience I’ve only had in “classic” plays. So maybe this is one for the canon.

Smart, fast, and funny!

A fascinating look into Reagan and the change he undergoes before the politics. Fantastically directed by Hannah Leatherbarrow with great comedic beats and use of the space. Stephanie and Alex shine onstage as we're thrown from moment to moment with strong, funny physical acting. Excited to see their work in the future! Highly recommend!

Unexpected "history"

This show was absolutely brilliant. I walked in, expecting to see a political history show of a president I viscerally despise, and got....A fever dream dark comedy where no one could tell the truth from the dream sequence. The acting was great, direction was wonderful for the space and OH MY THAT PUPPET.

Great play, staging and acting

This was a wild and wonderful ride with fantastic staging, props, acting and writing. A unique and thought-provoking look at the Reagans and the presidency. I'll be thinking about this one for a while.

Reagan like never before!

Always look forward to checking out what Alex Church is working on, and Dutch did not disappoint! No better way to have kicked off Fringe than with this interesting perspective and insight into Reagan's life outside of the public gaze on 10 pm on a Thursday night. Shoutout to this team!!!

Wonderful and worth your time!

Witty, biting script from Alex Church. The cues were tight, the props were fascinating, and the acting was captivating. Stephanie Kahle has amazing range, taking us through four distinct characters. The actors played so well off of each other and despite the four different audience coughing fits that erupted during the show, the focus and commitment was superb! And who doesn’t want to see a feather canon?

CLEVER CLEVER!!

Can’t recommend this show enough! An innovative and intriguing script, with fabulous performances by Kahle and Church - the physicality these actors bring to the stage is so exciting to watch. Quick and witty script - a fringe MUST SEE.

Original, Unique and Innovative

I loved the format of this production. Reagan's rise as seen through a test screening was a creative way to tell his story. Biting and funny, the writing was witty and I learned a few things about Dutch that I never knew. The acting was impeccable; both Kahle and Church were pros, Kahle did branch out a bit more as they were playing multiple roles. This was a brilliant, original piece that was well executed. This was one of my favorites this year!

A thoughtful and entertaining must-see

Political shows at the Fringe can be hit or miss, however I thought this one was a hit. It was a fascinating exploration about the man that Reagan was, and the man he became. Both of the performers were fully committed to the story, and they sold their roles with ease. Stephanie Kahle did a remarkable job portraying several important figures in Reagan's life, while Alex Church beautifully explored the complicated psyche of ol' Dutch. This show should definitely be on your list this Fringe season.

MUST DAMN SEE

Imaginative script, extraordinary acting. I am begging you to go see this show. I be back a few times and hope to see it staged again throughout the year.

RONNIE R HERSTORY

The show about a white man we didn’t know we needed! Did you know how bad Ronald Reagan was? Not like this! Watch ronald Reagan history become HERSTORY Come for the hotties on stage and stay for the FACTS

Fascinating and Unexpected!!!

A compelling and thought-provoking phantasma, Dutch: Made in America is a highlight of the 2024 Minnesota Fringe Festival! The storytelling is sharp, blending humor and drama in unexpected ways. The script is tight, the performances are stellar. It’s a well-crafted and engaging production that leaves you thinking about it long after leaving the theatre!

Clever, incisive, and surprisingly light touch!

I can understand having reservations about a political show at Fringe. They can be heavy-handed, didactic, and over the top. Even someone whose appetite for critical takes on Ronald Reagan is bottomless could be daunted! But that would have been a mistake, because it's a different and thought provoking take on the man's inner demons, and it's excellently and engagingly staged. The play runs quickly, gets its point across without hammering one over the head with it, and is very funny. A show where Ronald Reagan, doing a comedy routine with an FDR hand puppet, has the puppet hand go rouge a la Dr. Strangelove has its over the top moments. But it is carried by the theatrical skill with which it is staged. Alex Church, who plays Reagan, embodies the man well inspite of not looking like him; the hair and facial expressions sell it. Stephanie Kahle, who plays all the other characters in the play, sells the roles with skill and a real enthusiasm, and makes the various characters distinct from each other. Nancy Reagan is played with a certain glee that really sells it well. The costuming works well, the set is minimal but effective, the sound design carries and supports the story without overwhelming it. Teaching a Fringe venue can be an adventure, and the people not on the stage deserve credit for this piece as well. Overall, a smartly written and well performed play; some real restraint as well. (The title character lit from below in red one scene says what it says without needing dialogue to beat you over the head.) The only criticism I'd have is that Jimmy Carter as a cowboy is not something I really see, even if I see where the writer was going with the comparison.

Thrilling, funny, emotional and smart!!

LOVED this show! The writing was clever, bold, and effective, the direction dynamic, thrilling, and evocative, and the acting was simply superb. It's a can't-miss explosion of creativity, political commentary, and humor. Well done!!!

Dutch The Magic Reagan ...

... Lived by the Sea... Well not quite a song parody we did have some laughs. There were some moments where it got intense for a few good surprises. It would be helpful to have something of a timeline as to which part of his life we are covering as there was one actress who played multiple roles and all the other characters, which was quite impressive. It sounded like he started with leading his class to go on strike and then it must have been Nancy's dad who turned him to the dark side politically. Still kind of curious what exactly happened at the end. One memorable line that I elaborated on a bit: "They don't want a jar of jelly beans, they want love"

Go See this Show!

Such a unique and well-crafted production from start to finish! Alex Church and Stephanie Kahle’s performances were incredibly dynamic, and I loved how the dramatic action of the story kept me invested for the entire hour. This is a show that makes you feel all the feelings in the best way, and I love that a portion of the ticket sales are going to a nonprofit to help keep women’s rights alive in Minnesota. Go support y’all!!

Can’t stop thinking about Dutch

Sharp, funny, and completely surprising. Actors Alex Church and Stephanie Kahle and director Hannah Leatherbarrow are a dream team!!

Spellbinding

This is the type of show that I wish I could see twice to pick up more detail. Fascinating script, crisp direction and design, and such courage and athleticism in the actors. This show is, in the best way, SO Fringe.

Only one puppet

All about Dutch and the women in his life. Riveting performances.

You MUST see this show.

Alex Church has written a brilliant study of Ronald “Dutch” Reagan. He expertly portrays Reagan ‘s flawed humanity and the chemistry between him and Stephanie Kahle, who carries the responsibility of playing 4 other characters, is electric.

Made me Care About Reagan

I really really loved it. One of the most unexpected and compelling things that art can do for me is to see the beauty in extremely flawed people and Dutch: Made in America did it with stars (And Red, White and Blue). Great theater from great people. Go see it.

Captures your attention even post-show

The show had us googling, learning, and discussing more about Reagan’s life on the car ride home. It was interesting to see what obscure facts were put into the show in different artistic images and themes. Had some awesome stage pictures, tech elements, and a very respectable cowboy.

Excellent production of thought provoking drama

Well written. Excellent, powerful acting. Good staging. And thought-provoking and insightful material. This is an excellent production of a provocative subject. Both actors were outstanding throughout the whole production in some very complicated staging. A must see for those of us history and politics junkies.

Hypnotic roller coaster with firecracker acting

Watching actors Stephanie Kahle and Alex Church spar is a treat to behold. Kahle inhabits each character with captivating ease. As Church’s biting script twists reality further and further, the direction by Hannah Leatherbarrow deftly carries us through with evocative stage pictures and hypnotic energy transitions. The full creative team has a cohesive vision & collaboratively attuned execution with design choices that seamlessly further the storytelling.

Great Show

Great show! The performances were very moving. Love the actors.

A Fresh Depiction of Regan

Really appreciated the framing devices used for this show. The choice to use his nickname "Dutch" for the title and then characters refer to him by that in dialogue distanced us from the real guy. Coupled with avoiding a naturalistic impression, this was really an effective way giving us a blank canvas to view the story from. I found it to be a smart and original way to approach a character that would've otherwise felt overplayed. There were a lot of different historical figures represented in this piece in this piece but I was especially drawn to following his relationship to his mother and wife. The script drew parallels that were clear but not heavy handed. I was also impressed with how everyone on the team worked in tandem to balance the transatlantic melodrama with raunchy comedic lines. I hope people see this show and begin wondering who might be a "Dutch" today that can become a "Regan" later.

Incisive, Funny, and Emotive Portrait

Great performances, esp. Stephanie Kahle in 4 roles. Wonderful script from Monsieur Alex Church. A Finest Work To Date.

Unique Exploration

Some dynamic acting and direction grouped with a new script unpack a unique portrayal of Ronald Reagan. This show left me curious to learn more about what went into both the story and interest of Dutch's life for the playwright. Hope to see these artists' work continue in making bold new work!