There’s an emotionally raw quality to A Christmas Carole Petersen (Theater Latté Da, through Dec 30) that imparts to the material real substance, true Christmas spirit. Without this the play might could be glib, pat, and predictable. For example: Tod Petersen…
Author: John Olive
Review | Black Nativity: pure delight
Great balls of Gospel fire! Toe tapping tuneage! Satan-busting religiosity! Take me now, Lord! If Black Nativity (Penumbra Theatre, through, appropriately, Dec 24) doesn’t utterly transport you into an exquisite world of Gospel-fueled Christmas passion, well then, you have deep…
Review | Miss Bennet: Christmas At Pemberley: a delight
At the end of Miss Bennet: Christmas At Pemberley (at the Jungle) director Christina Baldwin brings the cast together for a final smiling pose. Playing underneath, appropriately, is Beethoven‘s Ode To Joy. That’s what Miss Bennet: Christmas At Pemberley is about:…
Roller Derby Queen: overlong, yes, but still effective
The central conceit of Michele Lepsche‘s affecting (and challenging) Roller Derby Queen (SOS Theater, performing in the wonderful Gremlin space – 550 Vandalia in St. Paul – through Nov 26) is terrific: Florence has ensconced herself in a junk-choked house…
Wedding Band: a frightening love story
Interracial marriage used to be illegal? Yikes. That was in the Bad Old Days. We now live, thank heaven, in an era in which love = love. Thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court (Loving v. Virginia in 1967; the recent…
The Music Man: seeworthy
To begin on a mercantile note: Artistry Theater charges $41 for a ticket to The Music Man (Artistry, 1800 Old Shakopee Road in Bloomington, through Nov 5). This is 1/4 of what they get at the Orpheum, 1/3 of what…
Electra: a two thousand five hundred year old gem
In Ten Thousand Things’ delicious Electra (various venues, opening at Open Book Oct 13; see TTT’s website for specifics; scheduled through Nov 5), Electra’s brother Orestes brings in the recently severed head of Aegisthus – his and Electra’s father’s murderer…
How To Use A Knife: sharp and entertaining
Will Snider‘s raucous How To Use A Knife (Mixed Blood, through Oct 15) niftily captures the cascading chaos of a modern American restaurant kitchen. Chef George rides herd – well, tries to – on his crazed Guatamalan line chefs, Miguel…
Hoopla Train: goofy, beery fun
In order to enjoy the appealing Hoopla Train (Sod House Theater, various venues, through Oct 15; visit sodhousetheater.com for specific info), it helps to make a commitment: to beer. Avoid hard liquor. You don’t wanna get snaky drunk. You want…
[almo$t equal to]: fun and confusing
My computer is unable to make the double squiggly line mathematical symbol that goes in front of this play’s title. ~, only two, one atop the other. Also, I’m unsure about the dollar sign. But the program has one, so…