Critic's Picks: Fringe Festival

The 2010 Minnesota Fringe Festival heats up the summer August 5 to 15 with 876 performances of 169 different shows at 19 stages in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. This year there are a couple of new twists. No shows will last more than an hour, and The Jungle Theater and Theatre in the Round have been added as venues, along with four bring-your-own-stage setups for site-specific work. There’s also a focus on work for young people, with roughly 10 shows aimed specifically at the younger set.

Even the most dedicated Fringe-goer can only see a fraction of the shows, so deciding which ones to attend can be a daunting task. To help, here are a few to put on your must-see list. For full details, visit fringefestival.org.

The Damn Audition by Joking Envelope
Brief: Joseph Scrimshaw wrote this comedy about actors vying for the role of Lucifer in “the audition room of hell.”
Reason to go: It stars local favorites, including Randy Reyes, Maggie Chestovich, David Mann, and John Middleton.

Theory of Mind by Mixed Blood Theatre
Brief: A teenager with Asperger’s syndrome accompanies a woman with whom he is smitten to the Hollywood Bowl for a concert.
Reason to go: It’s written by Ken LaZebnik, whose comedy-drama Vestibular Sense shined a humane light on autism.

Aardvark Fandango by Third Rabbit Dance Ensemble
Brief: Choreographer John Munger pulls together nine jazz and modern dance pieces with guest artists for each show.
Reason to go: It’s sure to be a fun show, especially for people new to dance performance

Princess Jessica and the Kingdom of Boogers by The Mechanical Division
Brief: A fair princess is kidnapped, taken to the Kingdom of Boogers, and held by the vile Emperor Snotso until her best friend, Squat, comes to the rescue.
Reason to go: A potential classic for the elementary school set.

Entwined by Awkward Moment Productions
Brief: A tale woven around a romantic road trip to the world’s biggest ball of twine.
Reason to go: Fringe veteran Amy Salloway is a smart, witty, engaging storyteller who rarely disappoints.

O(h) by Casebolt and Smith
Brief: An irreverent, dynamic, pop-influenced modern dance by two Fringe favorites.
Reason to go: Last year, Liz Casebolt and Joel Smith wowed crowds with Speaking Out! This year, they promise even more Fringe-worthy fun.

Speech! by Ferrari McSpeedy
Brief: A comedy involving the world of competitive forensics and a high-school speech team.
Reason to go: Comedy duo Joe Bozic and Mike Fotis (from the Brave New Workshop) are working for the first time with a full cast.

Taiko BAM! by Mu Performing Arts
Brief: Players from the Twin Cities, Canada, and Japan join forces for this booming Taiko drum performance.
Reason to go: As the title suggests, this will be a big, percussive show by some of the world’s best Taiko drummers.

A Sad Carousel by Pommelhorse
Brief: The outrageous story of an “insult comic” who battles violent hit men and rapacious talent agents.
Reason to go: No subject matter is off-limits here. Expect laughs of the I-can’t-believe-they-just-said-that variety.