comedy suitcase presents the averagers, photo by noah keesecker
I’ve gotten very accustomed to that satisfying pop of the Apple TV as I switch from option to option—so much so that I’ve barely noticed with how little fanfare I’ve abandoned the once vital but now antiquated habit of cable-channel swimming in the on-demand Netflix era. Today, the Minnesota Fringe makes more sense than ever, with its more than 170 shows spread out across genres of comedy, drama, musicals, and the always-tantalizing wild cards. I picked out the 20 shows that I’m most interested in seeing this year:
Minnesota Fringe
7/30–8/9
fringefestival.org
Drama
105 Proof or the Killing of Mack “The Silencer” Klein
Prohibition-era bootlegger in a tale by creators of Fringe hit Ash Land.
Image by Transatlantic Love Affair
Melancholy London
A devilish charmer investigates a demonic caseof a doctor poisoning his wife.
Image by Tim Uren
The Debutante
Love, loss, passion, and the foibles of the wealthy in a story by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Image by Bruce Abas
Petunia and Chicken
An old-time story of romance on the prairie inspired by the works of Willa Cather.
Image by Karim Muasher
Comedy
Merry Spider Cafe
Sketches, dance moves, and Ferrari McSpeedy’s ninth show at the MN Fringe.
Image by Mike Fotis
The Most Massive Woman Wins
Four women walk into a liposuction clinic in this comedy about body image.
Image by Theatre Unbound
Total Eclipse of the Heart
Original ensemble comedy inspired by Bonnie Tyler’s epic 1983 rock ballad.
Image by ericpare/Fotolia
Dr. Deep—Shake Your Noggin Like a Bobblehead
A lecture on spirituality, science, and nonsense for the “jaded and older”.
Image by Sam Mistry
Musical
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Death Star
Musical Star Wars parody with singing Storm Troopers.
Image by Tony Riley
Trial by Jury
Gilbert & Sullivan operetta about a woman who sues for breach of marriage and captivates the judge.
Image by Stephen Hage
Edgar Allan
An 11-year-old wants to be most remarakable at his boarding school; inspired by tales of Edgar Allan Poe.
Image by Dan Norman (photo) & Boris Rasin (artwork)
Damn Kids These Days
Young people tell stories of their parents’ childhoods to Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack.
Image by Amanda Eggers & Katy Hays
Dance
Spicy Masala Chai
Bollywood Dance Scene returns to the Fringe with a cast of 60 in this dance drama romance.
Image by D Mad Photography
Dance with the Devil
Fame, love, money (and the Seven Deadly Sins): the reasons people sell their souls.
Image by Dan Norman
High Flight
Music/dance with brass quintet telling story of MN man whose plane disappeared in 2012.
Image by Phoenix Memories Photography
Judge me. Hate me. Love me.
Two performers blow up the fourth wall with humor, connection, and intensity.
Image by Lauren Baker Photography
Other
Pretty Girls Make Graves
A dark comedy about friendship, named after a song by the Smiths.
Image by Justin D. Gallo Photography
Frankenstein
Bloody onstage horror and darkness—not for children or the squeamish.
Image by Raw Red Meat Productions
Too Punk to Care
Friends form a punk band to save the world from apathy and depression.
Image by Lizzie Narlock
Tales of the Lamp
Black light, puppets, and mime evoke the world of 1,001 Arabian Nights.
Image by Scott Lipiec & Todd Farley
