Minnesota Fringe Festival

As it does each August, the Minnesota Fringe Festival is going full tilt around the Twin Cities, providing a diversion to the summer heat. One of the shows this year is a production of Fletcher and Zenobia Save the Circus, based on the story by Edward Gorey. Fringe shows have very short runs, but there is still time to catch this production. Below is the full review by John Townsend that appeared in today's Star Tribune.

Fletcher & Zenobia Save the Circus

Ripe with physical comedy, award-winning Fringe favorites premiere their adaptation of Edward Gorey's "children's" book about an unlikely cat-and-doll duo who must overcome all odds to save a circus from ruin.

The playful Live Action Set brings vivacious physicality to the characters of Edward Gorey's children's book and its illustrations by Victoria Chess. Though the actors pull out all the stops and glory in their quirky clown-like portrayals, the cavernous Mill City Museum venue swallows up much of the dialogue, making it difficult to decipher whether their collaborative script adaptation coheres or not. But playing railroad trains and animals is a sure bet for laughs. Best of all, musicians Chris Hepola, Steven Hobert and Paul Fonfara capture the circus spirit.

Aug 12, Fri. at 7:00 pm
Aug 13, Sat. at 4:00 pm
Aug 13, Sat. at 7:00 pm
Aug 14, Sun. at 2:30 pm
Aug 14, Sun. at 5:30 pm

Mill City Museum
704 S. 2nd St.
Minneapolis, MN
(612) 872-1212
www.fringefestival.org/2011