Showing posts with label Vicky Erickson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vicky Erickson. Show all posts

Sunday, April 7, 2024

"I Am My Own Wife" at Lakeshore Players Theatre

Lakeshore Players Theatre's ambitious 71st season continues with perhaps the most interesting choice of the season - playwright Doug Wright's solo play I Am My Own Wife, chronicling his interviews with an East German transgender woman known as Charlotte von Mahlsdorf - antiques collector, museum curator, and gay icon. Charlotte lived through the Nazi and Communist occupations of Berlin. She provided a haven for the gay community in East Berlin during a time of persecution, but also worked as an informant for the Stasi (the Communist secret police). She was truly a singular individual, and the play explores not just her life, but also the playwright's investigation into her life, and his conflicting feelings about her complicated life.* I've previously only seen one production of this play 12+ years ago at the Jungle, and I was thrilled to revisit it. It's so smartly written, weaving Charlotte's stories, the playwright's questions, and historical facts into the storytelling. Lakeshore's production in the intimate immersive space of their black box theater features a charmingly detailed design and a tour de force performance by Lewis Youngren. Only five performances remain - don't miss your chance to see the truly impressive work happening out here in the 'burbs of White Bear Lake.

Sunday, March 10, 2024

"Radiant Vermin" at Lyric Arts

"We are thrilled to have you join us on this wildly dark, complex, and comedic ride... This show touches on a variety of intricate themes that include the unhoused, gentrification, myths surrounding the middle class, religious trauma, morality, and so much more. While I could try to explain further, it's better not to give too much away and just let you experience the journey." This note in the program from director Callie Aho pretty much sums up everything that can be said to someone considering seeing Lyric Arts' production of Radiant Vermin. The premise of the smart, funny, and super dark three-person play is so outrageous, I can't even begin to talk about it without spoiling the experience of seeing this play. But I will add that the direction, acting, and design are spot-on, so if any of the above sounds intriguing to you, I highly encourage you to head up to Anoka to see this play before it closes on March 24.

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

"Othello: The Remix" by Minneapolis Musical Theatre at the Phoenix Theater

On William Shakespeare's presumed birthday, I saw perhaps the most original retelling of one of his plays that I've ever seen. Othello: The Remix was created by the Q Brothers, who in 2021 partnered with Theater Latte Da on their "Ghostlight Series" of virtual cabarets for an original series of short music-theater pieces called "The Rap Pack." Their rap and hip-hop retelling of one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies (developed with Rick Boynton) traveled the world and went all the way to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London. No one better than Minneapolis Musical Theatre to bring us the area premiere of this ingenious work, the 48th area premiere for this company that specializes in "rare musicals, well done." It's clever and fast and well-cast, and I think the Bard would be pleased to know that his work is still being interpreted and speaks to people living in a much different world than he did (that's really not all that different at heart). Like they say in the show "good storytellers borrow, great ones steal" and the creators of this show stole from the best to make something unique and original. You can see it at the Phoenix Theater now through May 7 only.