MacBeth - University of Minnesota Duluth Theater - October 2026

MacBeth

Program Cover

By William Shakespeare

Adapted by SarahLynn Brown

Review by Ernest Edwards

The University of Minnesota Duluth Theatre is starting their 2026/2027 season with an adaption of Shakespeare’s classic MacBeth. With Director SarahLynn Brown’s adaptation she has changed the play from a Patriarchy to a Matriarchy. Characters such as Macbeth, Duncan, Banquo, and MacDuff were all played by woman. 

Photo by Ernest Edwards

This was an excellent adaption and presentation of the classic Shakespeare play. All of the aisles were used in the thrust stage, as well as other parts of the space. Every nook and cranny was used very effectively for this play. I really liked Emma Wylie’s scenery. I kept thinking to myself before the play started that this same scenery could also be used for a production of the Stephen Sondheim musical Into the Woods. 

These students were giving 110% for this production. This play was nonstop for 90 minutes. The cast was lead by Molly Fabian as MacBeth. As MacBeth she had a strong will, determination, fierceness and ferocity to her portrayal as the leading character of the play. Katherine Warmka as Lady MacBeth, had an elegence and guile as the partner in the schemes of rising through the Queendom. Phuong Nguyen did a great job portraying Banquo, and coming back as Banquo’s spirit to haunt MacBeth. 

We all know the story. During the finale fight between MacBeth and MacDuff, I really wanted to see MacBeth’s head roll across the stage. That could have been the cherry on top of this production. 

UMD had a great play showing at the Marshall Performing Arts Center through October 10, 2026. Check out https://cahss.d.umn.edu/departments/theatre/current-season for tickets. 

On the Razzle - Park Square Theatre - October 2026

On the Razzle

Program Cover

By Tom Stoppard

Review by Ernest Edwards

Park Square Theater is opening their 2026/2027 season with the 1981 Tom Stoppard comedy On The Razzle. 

You have probably heard of the play The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder or the musical Hello Dolly. Tom Stoppard’s play On The Razzle tells the familiar story, and is based on the original 1842 play of Einen Jux will er sich machen, which places the story in Austria in the 19th Century, with the characters heading off to Vienna for adventure. 

One of my favorite things to do is to check out the design corner in the lobby of the Park Square Theatre. There’s history of the story, scenic design renderings and costume renderings. Along with head shots of the cast, it is fun to check out the designs either before the show or during intermission. 

Tom Stoppard’s play is humorous and clever with the use of language The story is familiar structurally to the play The Matchmaker. The character names and locations have changed, the hilariousness is the same. One thing to note, it was Thornton Wilder with The Matchmaker, is where Dolly Gallagher Levi is introduced. Since Tom Stoppard’s play is based on the original 1842, there is no Dolly in On The Razzle. There is shenanigans, mistaken identity’s, fun, comedy, hijinks and plenty of adventure. 

Director Stephen DiMenna has assembled a great cast for even of comedy. Zangler is played by Emil Herrera, Weinberl is

Photo by Dan Norman

played by Chris Hayhurst, Sonders is played by Logan Liang, Mrs. Fischer is played by George Keller, Madame Knorr is played by Greta Oglesby, Melchior is played by Jose Sallibon, Christoper is played by Nate Turcotte, and the rest of the cast is rounded out by Allison Vincent, Ann Beth Baker, Porter Eldridge, Brendan Nelson Finn, Norah Long, and Tori Mitchell. 

Set your sights on adventure. On The Razzle continues through October 25, 2026. Check out www.parksquaretheatre.org for tickets. 

Check out the website www.79seconds.org. The site compiles all of the reviews for the stage productions currently playing in the Twin Cities. 

Pinocchio - Children’s Theatre Company - October 2026

Program Cover

Pinocchio

By Carlo Collodi

Review By Ernest Edwards

Pinocchio is fun for all ages. Pinocchio is the most fun you will have on stage.

The production of Pinocchio playing at the Children’s Theater Company is so creative and magical. Before the play begins, the stage looks like a show where the scenery is still under construction. The cast comes out in work clothes for painting the scenery. They are surprised to see us in the audience. Even more surprised to hear that everyone present has a ticket. This group of 5 decides to put on the play for us. 

With minimal props, scenery, costumes and make up, they put on a wonderful, creative and magical production of

The cast by Glen Stubbe

the play Pinocchio for us. The stage production had everything that I could remember about the story of Pinocchio, the wooden puppet who wanted to be a real boy. 

The cast was so great! They made us all feel welcome and were having fun telling us this familiar story. 

For the production I went to the cast included Antonisia (Nisi) Collins, Reed Sigmund, Autumn Ness, Chauncey Thomas and Victor Zupanc. 

With keeping with the theme, when the play was over, the cast politely asked the audience to leave so they could continue to work on the scenery. It was such a great concept for telling the story. 

With a run time of 90 minutes, plus a 15 minute intermission, this is great fun for the whole family. 

The play runs through October 18, 2026. Check out www.childrenstheatre.org for tickets. This play is not to be missed. 

Murder on the Nile - Frosted Glass Creative - October 2026

Murder On the Nile

Program Cover

By Agatha Christie

Review by Ernest Edwards

Have you ever wanted to be in the world of the play? Frosted Glass Creative has done exactly that with Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Nile. I got the see the play, while enjoying a boat ride off the banks of Stillwater, MN on the St. Croix River. 

This was such a fun experience, to be a boat going down the river, while watching a play about a boat ride on the Nile. (Dinner is included with your ticket) The first half of the run departs from Stillwater, on the St. Croix River. The second half of the fun, departs from Harriet Island in St. Paul, and will take you along the Mississippi River. This is a very unique experience for a play. It’s an experience that is not to be missed!

The story takes place in the 1930’s. Young couple heiress Kay Moystyn and Simon Moystyn are trying to enjoy their honeymoon by taking a trip down the Nile river. They are followed by Jacqueline De Severac, who is Simon’s ex lover and Kay’s old friend. When Kay is found murdered, everyone on the cruise is a suspect. 

Pay close attention to the action and listen to what is being said. There are lots of delicious bread crumbs throughout the play. The big reveal into who committed the crime, and why is revealed in classic Agatha Christie style. Death on the Nile keeps your attention the entire time. 

This play has a great cast. At the peformance I went to the cast was Kay Moystyn is played by Amy Eckberg, Simon Moystyn is played by Alex Galick, Cannon Pennefather is played by Charles Fraser, Jacqueline De Severac is played by Maya Pantaowitz, Miss FFoliot Ffoulkes is played by Peggy O’Connell, Christina Grant is played by Abby Slater, Smith is played by Elijah Leer, Louise is played by Mackenzie Diggins, Dr. Bessner is played by Patrick O’Brien, McNaught is played by Logan Kehoe, and Beadseller is played by Jiccarra N. Hollman. 

The play runs through October 24, 2026. Check out www.frostedglasscreative.com for tickets. 

You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown - Artistry - October 2026

You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown

Program Cover

Book, Music, and Lyrics by Clark Gesner

Additional dialogue by Michael Mayer

Additional Music and Lyrics by Andre Lippa

Review by Ernest Edwards

Nostalgic for the good old days? Reminiscing about the simpler and innocent times from childhood? Head on down to the Artistry stage for their current production of the musical You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, based on the Peanuts characters by Charles M. Schulz. 

This 1967 musical has been in NYC a few times over the year. Probably most notably is the 1999 Broadway production that featured actress Kristen Chenoweth as Sally Brown. 

This is not your typical musical. There’s not an overall plot, it’s vignettes of Charlie Brown and the gang. There’s Lucy’s psychiatric stand, the kite getting stuck in a tree, a baseball game, Schroeder playing piano, Snoopy flying after the Red Barron and many more. 

The reason to see this show is the cast! It’s a great who’s who of the Twin Cities theater acting

The cast list, from the program

community. Some of my favorite actors/actresses in the Twin Cities are in this show. The casting for this show is spot on. Jay Albright plays Charlie Brown, and he looks like how Charlie Brown would look as an adult. He was perfect. Michelle Barber plays Sally, and really capture her personality. Bradley Greenwald brought so much to the role of Snoopy. One of my favorite moments was when Snoopy was battling the Red Barron and Snoopy’s arms did the machine gun action. That is so Snoopy. Perfectly cast as Linus is Tod Peterson, Tod embodies Linus so well, and knows how to use Linus’s blue blanket. Jen Santoro Rotty embodies Lucy strong personality. Joenathan Thomas brings life to our favorite piano player Schroeder. 

There really isn’t a scenic designer listed in the program. I really enjoyed how they designed Schroeder’s piano and Snoopy’s dog house. They looked and felt inspired by the comics and animated specials. Costume Coordinator Britt Hilton did a great job giving those adults costumes that felt reminiscent of these characters. The acting, scenery and costumes helped to transport us to the neighborhood of the Peanuts gang. 

Artistry has a fun show playing with You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown. The musical runs through October 25, 2026. Check out www.artistrymn.org for tickets. 

Wife of A Salesman

Wife of a Salesman

Program Cover

By Eleanor Burgess

Review by Ernest Edwards

Have you seen the Arthur Miller play Death of a Salesman? Have you ever wondered what if the wife confronted the mistress? The Gird Friday Productions of the play Wife of a Salesman at the Gremlin Theater answers that question. 

This play came at the right time for me as was able to see the Broadway Revival of the play Death of a Salesman this past summer in New York City. That story is still fresh in mind. Wife of Salesman is a great companion piece to the classic play Death of a Salesman. 

The events in this play would take place years before Biff, the eldest son, discovered his dad Willy Loman with his mistress in Boston. This play doesn’t mention any of the characters by name, if you know Death of a Salesman, you know exactly who everyone is that referenced in this play. 

I really liked how the play was structured. Part way through the play, we learn what we are seeing is the final rehearsal before opening night. The director comes on stage, stops the action, fixes some lights, we start some scenes over, and we see the actresses stop acting and just chat with each other during the break. Then we are back at it with the story from the play. It was an interesting way to tell the story. 

The cast is perfect in their roles. The Wife is played by Mo Perry, The Mistress is played by Hannah Steblay, and Joe is played by Craig Johnson. The scenery was designed by Eric Morris, takes us to a Boston apartment in the early 1950’s. The costumes are designed by Barb Portinga. The costumes do help us identity who these two different woman are. 

We will never know if these events ever happened, but it’s a great play based on a very good what if scenario. This is an excellent companion piece to the Arthur Miller play. 

Unlike Death of a Salesman, Wife of a Salesman is 90 minutes with no intermission. 

The play runs through October 4, 2026. Check out www.girlfridayproductions.org for tickets. 

Indecent - Theater Latte Da - September 2026

Indecent 

Program Cover

The True Story of a Little Jewish Play

By Paula Vogel

Score & Original Music by Lisa Gutkin & Aaron Halva

Indecent is the most important play of 2026. 

I knew nothing about this play going into it. Which was great! As much as I love seeing something that I am familiar with, there’s an excitement in seeing something new. This play was absolutely wonderful in many ways. 

I learned that this play premiered on Broadway in 2017. Indecent is a play about the play titled God of Vengeance that premiered in Berlin in 1907 and Broadway in 1923. After seeing Indecent, I am curious about seeing God of Vengeance. God of Vengeance is a play written in Yiddish in the early 1900’s. The play God of Vengeance was performed around Europe. The play is also controversial, as it’s a Yiddish play with a lesbian couple at the center of the story. When the play comes to America, it is performed in Yiddish in downtown Manhattan. When the play moves to Greenwich Village, it gets translated to English by a different writer. That writer also removes some of the scenes that makes it special. What is left is not the same show. What’s the saying? Something got lost in translation. In this case that is literally what happened. What was presented in English caused the play to be shut down, by the moral authority of New York City in 1923 and the cast was arrested. That makes me think about what shows since then could have faced scrutiny from some moral authority. Some shows that come to mind are Oh Calcutta, Hair, Chicago, A Chorus Line, Grease, the Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Torch Song Trilogy, La Cage Aux Follies, Falsettos, The Boys in the Band, The Normal Heart, Rent, Spring Awakening, Passion and many more. 

The play focuses on Avram, who is the playwright of God of Vengeance. Ryan London Levin plays Avram

Photo by Dan Norman

with a passion and a drive. This is also a play with music. Spencer Chandler plays an accordion, Rebecca Mac plays the violin, Pat O’Keefe plays the clarinet and other wind instruments. The rest of the cast brings so much to this story. Robert Dorman plays Otto, August Forman plays Lemml, Tony Larkin plays Mendel, Ann Michaels plays Vera, Aila Peck plays Halina, Ani Tonoyan plays Chana. I really liked August Forman’s performance of Lemml. He was the narrator and heart of the play. 

I try to not give away the ending with my reviews. I really want to mention the ending of Indecent. Throughout the play, we keep hearing about this rain scene with the two leading ladies. We get to see that scene in the rain, and it’s beautiful. 

Theater Latta Da takes us on a wonderful journey with their first show of their 2026/2027. Don’t hestistate, buy tickets right now. This show is not to be missed. This show needs to be experienced live at the theatre. 

Indecent plays through October 18, 2026. Check out www.latteda.org for tickets.