The 1, 170th Live Broadcast
McCown Gymnasium at Winona State University
with: Garrison Keillor, The Guy's All-Star Shoe band, Pat Donohue, Gary Raynor, Peter Johnson, Andy Stein, Tim Russell, Sue Scott, Tom Keith, Marcia Ball, Don Bennett, Corey Keller, Andrew Nafziger, Thad Scott, Michael Doucet, Beausoleil, David Doucet, Billy Ware, Tommy Alesi, Jimmy Breaux, Mitch Reed, Simone Perrin.
The famous radio show's live broadcast.
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This is probably the fourth time I've been to a live broadcast of A Priaire Home Companion. It's always an enjoyable time. Watching a radio show in production is the treat on one level, but seeing the artists performing live is worth the price of admission in itself.
Usually.
This particular broadcast was a bit less than exciting. Keillor mentioned, at the top of the show, that he was suffering symptoms of the flu, and I did feel that he was not in top form. I also didn't feel that the guests were generally top-notch. Simone Perrin, who was billed as a local (probably was, but I was not familiar with her), tried too hard and generally seemed like college talent.
A bit of a disappointment, but still better than much of the amateur productions I've seen in the area.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
GROUCHO -- Viterbo University
Groucho Marx: Frank FerranteA one man show featuring Frank Ferrante as Groucho Marx.
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Truly a fantastic show. Frank is so incredibly much like how we remember Groucho from the movies and television appearances that it seems as if Groucho himself is back and live on stage.
As one might expect, the best parts of a performance like this is the off-the-cuff remarks; the responses to things happening around him on the stage and in the theatre.
For me, one of the incredible parts of the evening was when Frank chose my own son to go on to the stage and he put the Groucho make-up on him and taught him the Groucho walk saying to the audience,"Hey I can't do this forever!"
An absolutely wonderful show. I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard!
Friday, February 08, 2008
MSHSL 2A STATE ONE ACT PLAY FESTIVAL -- O-Shaunessy Auditorium
The Minnesota State festival for High School One Acts.
Schools must win two different competitions to perform at this level. Competition is broken down to two different categories - 1A and 2A, depending on the size of the school. This year I attended the 2A (larger schools) State One Acts.
Performing were:
"PK Xmas" by David Hawley (North, North St. Paul)
"Wit" by Margaret Edson (Anoka)
"The Romancers" by Edmond Rostrand (Dassel-Cokato)
"The Boys Next Door" by Tom Griffin (Forest Lake)
"Marvin's Room" by Scott McPherson (Minnetonka)
"Doubt: A Parable" by John Patrick Shanley (Eagan)
"Ordinary People" by Nancy Gilsenan (Albert Lea)
"Bits and Pieces" by Corinne Jacker (Moorhead)
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Competing in the 1A competition, it was nice to see some schools unique to me, for a change. However, I didn't see much difference in quality, as I expected. I thought that with the larger schools we'd see more impressive sets or higher quality of acting. It wasn't so.
Most of these plays were heavy dramas, dealing with death and trying to make some sort of sense of this ("Bits and Pieces" "Ordinary People" "Marvin's Room" "Wit").
"The Romancers" stood out as being most unique, and mostly well done, but it did drag somewhat.
"The Boys Next Door" was well done, but lacked a through-line. Was it the cutting?
"Bits and Pieces" was well performed and I enjoyed the presentation. Similarly, "Doubt" was well performed and strong. Many around me seemed to really find the performances of the leads in "Wit" and "Marvin's Room" exceptionally strong. I was not overly impressed.
Still, a great way to spend the day, watching theatre.
Schools must win two different competitions to perform at this level. Competition is broken down to two different categories - 1A and 2A, depending on the size of the school. This year I attended the 2A (larger schools) State One Acts.
Performing were:
"PK Xmas" by David Hawley (North, North St. Paul)
"Wit" by Margaret Edson (Anoka)
"The Romancers" by Edmond Rostrand (Dassel-Cokato)
"The Boys Next Door" by Tom Griffin (Forest Lake)
"Marvin's Room" by Scott McPherson (Minnetonka)
"Doubt: A Parable" by John Patrick Shanley (Eagan)
"Ordinary People" by Nancy Gilsenan (Albert Lea)
"Bits and Pieces" by Corinne Jacker (Moorhead)
#####
Competing in the 1A competition, it was nice to see some schools unique to me, for a change. However, I didn't see much difference in quality, as I expected. I thought that with the larger schools we'd see more impressive sets or higher quality of acting. It wasn't so.
Most of these plays were heavy dramas, dealing with death and trying to make some sort of sense of this ("Bits and Pieces" "Ordinary People" "Marvin's Room" "Wit").
"The Romancers" stood out as being most unique, and mostly well done, but it did drag somewhat.
"The Boys Next Door" was well done, but lacked a through-line. Was it the cutting?
"Bits and Pieces" was well performed and I enjoyed the presentation. Similarly, "Doubt" was well performed and strong. Many around me seemed to really find the performances of the leads in "Wit" and "Marvin's Room" exceptionally strong. I was not overly impressed.
Still, a great way to spend the day, watching theatre.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
MSHSL SECTION ONE ACT PLAY COMPETITION -- Stewartville High School
Performing Arts Center, Stewartville, MN
The top two high school one act plays from the 1-A Region in Minnesota, compete for honors to perform at State. The performing schools were:
Byron
Fillmore Central
Kingsland
Pine Island
Rushford-Peterson
St. Charles
Triton
Wabasha-Kellogg
Plays being performed were:
"The Serpent" by Jean-Claude Van Itallie
"The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon" by Don Zolidis
"LAUGH-IN at History" by Sandra Henning Miller and Cast
"Crisis, Inc" by Daniel Munson
"Employees Must Wash Hands ... Before Murder" by Don Zolidis
"Wiler and the Hairy Man" by Jack Stokes
"Competition Piece" by John S. Wells
"15 Minute Hamlet" by Tom Stoppard
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I'd seen most of these plays either at the Sub-Section competition or at the Conference Competition, but was still impressed with the improvements made by all the directors and casts.
I happen to like off-beat theatre, and Jean Claude van Itallie is definitely off-beat. The kids did an admirable job with this. They were well directed and very precise, which was nice. Unfortunately, the piece itself was probably beyond the ken of the kids, so they really were only aping the movements that the director was giving them, rather than acting feeling any of it themselves.
"The Brothers Grimm..." is one I'd seen twice before, and unfortunately it was probably their weakest performance. I think they actually peaked at their first competition (where they took first place). The play, as directed, relies a lot on one particular performer to make it really sing, and he seemed to be not as involved as they needed him.
"Laugh In..." was one that I did not get to see.
"Crisis, Inc." is another play that I was familiar with. This performance was rushed and lacked passion.
"Employees Must Wash Hands..." is one of those plays that amazes me that it made it this far. The performance was goofy without purpose, and not particularly tight.
I could easily go the rest of my life and not have to watch another performance of "Wiley and the Hairy Man" and be very happy. I'd seen this cast earlier in the season and was very unimpressed, but this performance was spot on! Fantastic. I actually enjoyed the play for the first time! What a delight to see these kids make this leap. This was my pick for first place.
"Competition Piece" was a cheesy bit of a play, but well directed and performed. These kids are a tight unit. My pick for second place.
"15 Minute Hamlet" was just about the most embarassing piece of theatre I've ever seen. Slow-moving, plodding, dull, lifeless, limp. What other adjectives can I think of to describe this?
Surprisingly, to me, "Competition Piece" was the play to come out on top, making this at least the third time in four years for this school (St. Charles). My congratulations to them (though I still think "Wiley..." should have won).
The top two high school one act plays from the 1-A Region in Minnesota, compete for honors to perform at State. The performing schools were:
Byron
Fillmore Central
Kingsland
Pine Island
Rushford-Peterson
St. Charles
Triton
Wabasha-Kellogg
Plays being performed were:
"The Serpent" by Jean-Claude Van Itallie
"The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon" by Don Zolidis
"LAUGH-IN at History" by Sandra Henning Miller and Cast
"Crisis, Inc" by Daniel Munson
"Employees Must Wash Hands ... Before Murder" by Don Zolidis
"Wiler and the Hairy Man" by Jack Stokes
"Competition Piece" by John S. Wells
"15 Minute Hamlet" by Tom Stoppard
#####
I'd seen most of these plays either at the Sub-Section competition or at the Conference Competition, but was still impressed with the improvements made by all the directors and casts.
I happen to like off-beat theatre, and Jean Claude van Itallie is definitely off-beat. The kids did an admirable job with this. They were well directed and very precise, which was nice. Unfortunately, the piece itself was probably beyond the ken of the kids, so they really were only aping the movements that the director was giving them, rather than acting feeling any of it themselves.
"The Brothers Grimm..." is one I'd seen twice before, and unfortunately it was probably their weakest performance. I think they actually peaked at their first competition (where they took first place). The play, as directed, relies a lot on one particular performer to make it really sing, and he seemed to be not as involved as they needed him.
"Laugh In..." was one that I did not get to see.
"Crisis, Inc." is another play that I was familiar with. This performance was rushed and lacked passion.
"Employees Must Wash Hands..." is one of those plays that amazes me that it made it this far. The performance was goofy without purpose, and not particularly tight.
I could easily go the rest of my life and not have to watch another performance of "Wiley and the Hairy Man" and be very happy. I'd seen this cast earlier in the season and was very unimpressed, but this performance was spot on! Fantastic. I actually enjoyed the play for the first time! What a delight to see these kids make this leap. This was my pick for first place.
"Competition Piece" was a cheesy bit of a play, but well directed and performed. These kids are a tight unit. My pick for second place.
"15 Minute Hamlet" was just about the most embarassing piece of theatre I've ever seen. Slow-moving, plodding, dull, lifeless, limp. What other adjectives can I think of to describe this?
Surprisingly, to me, "Competition Piece" was the play to come out on top, making this at least the third time in four years for this school (St. Charles). My congratulations to them (though I still think "Wiley..." should have won).
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