Pride & Prejudice September 2025

Pride & Prejudice

A play by Kate Hamill adapted from the novel by Jane Austen

Reviewed by Ernest Edwards/Ernest Goes To The Theatre

Dear Reader. If you are looking for a Regency Era fix while we wait for Bridgerton Season 4 to come out. Then Theatre in the Round Players production of Pride & Prejudice is the play for you.  It’s the first play of the TRP’s 2025/2026 season, which is also TRP’s 74th season. It is indeed a strong start to the TRP season. 

When I left the theatre, after the Sunday matinee, I was so happy, full of joy, gleeful and even giddy from this production.  It was so good that I was full of warm fuzzy’s for the rest of the day. Nothing could rain on my parade. Now that’s an impactful play. 

This was the third production that this audience member has seen of Kate Hamill’s adaption of Pride & Prejudice, Each production was fun and fabulous in their own way. TRP’s production feels like the dial is cranked all the way up on the fun meter. I would normally say to stop what you are doing, drop everything, and get out and see this play. Alas dear reader, the rest of the run is sold out!  The play runs through next weekend, and closes on Sunday October 5th. I hear there is a waiting list. Check out www.theatreintheround.org for more details. 

In previous productions, I have seen small casts with a whole lot of double, triple and quadruple casting going on.  For TRP’s production, it was a larger cast with all for the larger principle characters only having their one role, but some of the lessor characters the actors were also in the ensemble.  

Before I go to far I need to speak about the sound design for this production by Robert Hoffman and Penelope Parsons-Lord. Preshow, during the intermission, for some scene changes were some modern day songs.  During the show, similar to the Bridgerton Netflix Series, was orchestral versions of modern day pop songs.  The sound design helped to set the tone and add to the exuberance of this production. It was like a cherry on top of a dessert. 

With this also being a period play. I also need to speak highly of the costumes by Penelope Parsons-Lord and Krista Weiss.  From period splendor, to ink spills, to a dripping wet Mr. Darcy, the costumes were perfect for each charter. Yes, TRP found a way to have Mr. Darcy appear on stage in a wet shirt. No complaints from me. I remember that scene entrance garnered applause.  It also pays homage to the Colin Firth Pride & Prejudice miniseries. 

I have many favorite moments from this production, one of them was the introduction scene for Mr. Collins.  

If you are not familiar with Pride and Prejudice, there are many mini series, movies and the book.  One of my favorite memories of seeing a different adaptation at American Players Theater years ago. I was at a student matinee in September. Colleen Madden, one of the actors, came out and gave a brief history of the time period to the high school students in the audience. It went something like this, “in this time period inheritance went from farther to son or the nearest male heir.  A young woman had to marry, and marry well. Otherwise she would then have to become a burden onto her family. Woman were not allowed to inherit, nor to have professions.” What you need to know about Pride & Prejudice is that it focuses on the Bennet Family.  Mr. and Mrs. Bennet only have daughters.  The closest male heir is a cousin, Mr. Collins. So if the daughters are not married off, once Mr. Bennet passes on, the estate will go to Mr. Collins and Mrs. Bennet and her daughters will be without a home and income.  Enter Mr. Bingley played by Michael Hundevad.  Mr. Bingley, his sister Miss Bingley played by Sydney Payne and their friend Mr. Darcy played by Luke Langfeldt are now occupying a nearby mansion and are hosting a ball. Mrs. Bennett played by Alison Anderson get’s her machinations in order.  To say her ability to gossip and that her voice carry’s is an understatement. The pairing of Lizzy Bennet played by Eva Gemino and Mr. Darcy are perfection. They made were great sparing partners in this tale. The quips and repartee and zingers were just right.  

From beginning to end, this production of Pride & Prejudice is a gift wrapped in splendor and wonder. 

Misery September 2025

Misery at Yellowtree Theatre

I was at opening night of Misery at Yellowtree Theatre.  Not only was it opening night for Misery, but opening night for Yellowtree’s 18th season. That is pretty exciting!  Yellowtree’s 2025/2026 season is off to an exciting start!  Another treat to going to opening is the play itself. What a play! What a story! What a performance!

You may find the title of the play to be familiar. It is. The play is based one the Stephen King book, and William Goldman (Princess Bride, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All The President’s Men) turned the book into a play in 1987. I think everyone is familiar with the 1990 movie that featured James Caan and Kathy Bates. I still have not seen the famous movie.  Need to put that on my to do list.   

I did see the play Misery back in 2023 at Yellowtree. This production is brought back by popular demand. It is directed by original director John Catron with an all new cast. This productions cast puts on a master class in acting.  Dustin Bronson as writer Paul Sheldon and Laura Esping as Annie Wilkes take us on a journey with this play.  

The story is Paul is a famous writer of a series of books based on the character Misery. The play begins with Paul injured in a bed at a cabin that belongs to Annie. Annie is a nurse who happened to be there when Paul had his car accident in the Colorado mountains during a blizzard. We learn that Annie is his number one fan.  She saved his life and is nursing him back to health.  As the play goes on, Annie goes from caring nurse to prison warden. She is not going to let her patient/favorite author go.  Especially when at the end of the newly release 9th issue of the Misery series the character Misery dies. Annie keeps the injured Paul as a prisoner until he writes a 10th book and brings Misery back to life.  

This play is gripping and keeps you engaged the entire time as you watch Paul try to figure out his escape.  The role of Paul is physically demanding, with his injuries as he tries to move about with broken legs, and later shattered ankles. How did Paul get shattered ankles? Well Annie figured out he was getting out his room. While he was sleeping she strapped him to the bed, drugged him and then took a sledge hammer to his ankles. “She’s a nurse and knows what she is doing”. He can’t leave with broken ankles, but he can still type on the typewriter. As long as he writes this book to Annie’s liking, she’ll keep him around/alive.  Paul is afraid, as he should be.  He’s all alone with his number one fan. 

Once spring begins to arrive, with the melting of the snow, the Sheriff finds Paul’s car not from Annie’s cabin. He begins to put the clues together and believes that Annie has had Paul at her cabin all along. She kills’s the Sheriff. He knows too much and can’t be allowed to take Paul from her. Not now, not when the 10th book of the Misery series is so close to being completed. 

Dustin Bronson acts with a passion in showing us the pain his character is in and how physically demanding the simple tasks are with the limitations of his injured body. Laura Esping is amazing as she goes from kind caring nurse, to cruel kidnapper.  She even cut the wires to her own phone, so Paul can’t call for help.  The acting a powerhouse with the play Misery.  

I really liked the ending of the play, where Paul is at a press tour talking about 10th book. Mentions that his editor believes he should write a book about the circumstances behind the creation of the 10th book. We in the audience watched the story unfold. I agree that would for a great story. How did Paul escape from Annie? You will have to watch the play to find out. 

What I don’t remember about the scenery from when I had seen this production in 2023. Above the scenery that makes up Annie’s cabin, is pages of manuscript on the wall. It all ties in to book writing.  I really liked that element in the Justin Hooper’s scenic design. 

This play is gripping. It keeps you engaged. If you are familiar with the movie, even if you are not familiar with the movie, this play is for you! There are performances through October 19, check out www.yellowtreetheatre.com for tickets. 

Only Ugly Guys September 2025

Only Ugly Guys 

Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre (Ernest Edwards)

Last night the Gremlin Theatre hosted the Running Errands new play of Only Ugly Guys, written by Kurt Engh. It is a modern day play about the lives of four gay men.  There’s married couple Brad (Steve Mallers) and Adam (Jack Oleg), their houseguest Chase/Ciprian (Trent Ramert) and Dean (Leo Rossmiller).  Adam is sex therapist, Dean has generational family wealth, Ciprian loves spending time at clubs and bathhouses as a pass around party bottom, and Dean has a successful Onlyfans career.  

As you enter the theater, you go through a plastic sheet tunnel in the lobby.  Are we going clubbing? Are going to a bathhouse? Are we seeing a play? You don’t know until you enter the theater space. The club music before the play helps to set the mood too.  Excellent work with the setting up the atmosphere. 

One of my favorite moments in the play, is the opening sequence. It’s in the dark of night, and four guys are trying to get dressed in a hurry in the dark before any knows they were there.  It’s well executed chaos. 

The story really gets interesting when Brad and Adam decide to open their marriage and start sleeping around.  Cirpian wants Dean, Brad wants Cirprian, Adam doesn’t know what he wants, Dean just wants to have a really good time. Everything falls apart at the end of the first act. The second act begins with Brad and Adam still married, but Brad is now with Cirprian and Adam is now with Dean.  Cirprian is jealous that Adam is with Dean and tries to take Dean down.  To say things get messy, is an understatement.  

The final scene is a year later and the guys meet up at Brad’s cabin. Mistakes were made, feelings were hurt, this group realizes the importance of friendship that they have. There was also a prediction made in the final scene, which takes place in 2026 that was that marriage equality had ended. That hit me hard. I hope that does not become reality.  

This play is edgy, current, funny and has some tender moments. 

I had only stumbled across this play a week ago. Glad I was able to see it before it closes on Saturday September 27. Please check www.gremlintheatre.org for tickets. 

What I also really liked about the cast, besides the eye candy on stage, was reading the program and seeing how many were local to the Twin Cities and studied with the University of Minnesota BFA program with the Guthrie Theater. One cast member also performed with American Players Theater. 

Hokus Pokus Live September 2025

Hokus Pokus Live! 

On Thursday September 18, 2025, for one night only, at the Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul was a tour of Hokus Pokus Live! The show features Jujubee as Sarah Sanderson, Ginger Minge as Winifred Sanderson, Sapphira Crista’l as Mary Sanderson and featuring Landon Cider as Billy.  

It’s 2025! And this is the unofficial third chapter in the story of the Sanderson’s sisters, who were resurrected for one night in 1993, 2022, and 2025.  To their glee, they are coming back sooner and sooner. (Wink, wink).  This show was so funny.  It reminded me of Saturday Night Live in the way they could make each other laugh and break character. Jujubee had to turn upstage many times throughout the evening to keep from laughing. Which us laugh even more. 

When they had to summon Book from Salem to downtown St. Paul, Minnesota, they also ended up conjuring Billy and bringing everyone’s favorite back from the dead boyfriend to the stage of the Fitzgerald.  

The singing, dancing, and comedy is exactly what I expected from this trio of contestants from the Rupaul Drag Race franchise. They did not disappoint. In fact they delivered on so many levels. I would say it was a 12 out of 10.  Wish it was in town for more than one performance. Check it out and see if it’s a city near you. It’s just in time for spooky season. 

Treasure Island September 2025

Treasure Island review by Ernest Edwards

Set your sails for a fun adventure! A swashbuckling good time! Adventure on the high seas! There is treasure to be found! It is the production of Treasure Island currently playing at the Children’s Theatre Company.  This script has been adapted by Stuart Paterson based on the book by Robert Louis Stevenson. This production is directed by Artistic Director Rick Dildine.  

Children’s Theatre Company does a great job with getting you into the story. Once you walked into the lobby there’s wanted posters of pirates, there’s also a bookcase full of books and artwork about pirates. The upper lobby has fun for the whole family.  There’s games and activities, along with a pirate map on the wall, and a photo opportunity with the steering wheel of an old ship in front of a green screen.  It really gets you in the mood for the play Treasure Island, and makes one want to say “Arrrr” like a pirate.  Dressing up as pirate is also encouraged when attending this play. Then when you walk into the theater and see the scenery, it’s a two story set that looks like the inside of wooden vessel.  All of the action and story takes place in and around this scenery. It’s all used very cleverly and purposefully by the cast to tell the story.  The program for Treausre Island is full of lots of information about the story, real life pirates, information on pirate ships, films adaptations of the book over time, and activities. It’s a great read before the play begins. 

The story follows young Jim Hawkins (played by Truman Bednar the night I went. The role is double cast). Jim finds a treasure map and with Squire Trelawney (played by Em Adam Rosenberg), Doctor Livesey (played by Max Wojtanowicz) and a crew lead by Long John Silver (played by Reed Sigmund), they get a ship and set sail for a treasure hunt. The crew turns out to be pirates, lead by Long John Silver,  who also have their sights on the lost treasure.  Things get interesting once they get to the island. 

It’s fun watching Jim Hawkins journey in this play. He goes from a young man bar keeping at his Mom’s bar, to taking on pirates and being just as adult as the adults in the story. 

This play has excellent story telling. It moves at a good pace. The scenery (by Christopher Swader and Justin Swader) and costumes (by Alexa Behm) really contribute to the story of pirates in the 1800’s. 

If you’re into pirates, adventure and swordplay then get to Treasure Island. Treasure Island has performances through October 19, 2025.  Check out www.childrenstheatre.org for tickets. 

Anyone Can Whistle September 2025

Anyone Can Whistle in Concert

Minneapolis Musical Theatre gave me some firsts at last nights production.  In all the years I have lived in the Twin Cities I have never been to The Conn Theater at the Howard Conn Fine Arts Center. I have also never seen the musical Anyone Can Whistle before.  I do have a cast recording from the 1995 benefit concert in New York City. That concert did include Angela Lansbury, who was also involved in the original 1964 Broadway production.  It’s been years since I last listened to that recording.  

This was such a fun musical.  Doing the musical in concert really helped with telling the story. I think if we have a fully realized production with more cast members and scenery it could have muddled up the storytelling. Having a concert production really allowed this audience member to get into the story and to enjoy the music and lyrics of the late Stephen Sondheim. 

The story is about a small town that is having financial issues. Also the reservoir has dried up.  The town council along with guidance from the  mayor create a miracle by having water pump out of an ordinary rock. The town begins to make money by charging admission to the miracle and allowing folks to drink from the water. When 49 patients from the local asylum show up. The town council can’t have them drinking the water and exposing the fraud. If none of the 49 are cured, then the gig is up.  Lots of musical theater shenanigans start to play out.  Sometimes to hilarious results.  

The musical also has themes and situations that are still relevant in 2025.  The adage of the more things change, the more they stay the same rings true with some of the situations in Anyone Can Whistle. 

Anyone Can Whistle in Concert was perfect for Minneapolis Musical Theater. Their motto is “Rare Musicals. Well Done.” Anyone Can Whistle fits that bill perfectly.  The cast was perfection! It was a great ensemble. 

There are only 4 more performances left to catch this gem of an experience. Please visit www.aboutmmt.org for tickets. This show should not be missed. 

Big Fish September 2025

Big Fish

The 2025/2026 theater season is off to strong start! There are big things happening at Lyric Arts with their production of Big Fish.  The musical is based on the book and the 2003 Columbia Picture’s movie.  The book of the musical is by John August, who wrote the screen play for the movie, with music & lyrics by Andrew Lippa. The story follows Edwards Bloom, who is more than the teller of tall tales, he is a loving husband and father.  

Now as his son Will is getting married. Will is realizing that he doesn’t know who his father really is.  He just knows the stories.  Will set’s out to find the truth in the tales to find out who his father really is.  It’s a beautifully told story at Lyric Arts. The music & lyrics of Andrew Lippa assist with moving the story along, adding to Edward’s tales, and also helps to pull on your heartstrings.  

It was a very fun night at the theater. 

The cast does an amazing job bringing this story to life at the Main Street Stage in downtown Anoka.  Ben Bakken as Edward Bloom is not just the leading man in this production, he his the heart and soul of the production.  Ben has the job of playing Edward Bloom throughout his life. From being a teen, to adulthood, to fatherhood, to his own son’s wedding. Ben also has the vocal talent to pull off all of Edward’s songs and emotions. Ben gave a tour de force of a performance on opening night. Also need to mention Will Gaspar as Will Bloom. His voice was golden.  Will is more serious when compared to Edward, but it’s Will who tells Edward’s final story. That was such a beautiful moment on stage.  

There’s also a trio of woman who round out the core cast. Woman who are important to Edward and Will’s story.  There’s Kate Beahen as Sandra, the woman who would become Edward’s wife. Megan Beard as the former high school sweetheart. And Lydia Rose Prior as Josephine who marry’s Will and helps him to find the truth in his father’s stories.  This production also has a great ensemble, who does so much for this production. They help to bring the magic to this wonderful story. 

In addition to the cast, what brought this production together was the scenery, lighting and costumes.  Scenery was designed by Curtis Phillips, lighting was designed by Shannon Elliot, and costumes were designed by Samantha Fromm Haddow.  Excellent use of projections in Big Fish.

To quote a lyric from a song of the musical, “be the hero of your story”.  When the musical was over, I had all of this feel good energy coursing through me.  

This musical runs through September 28, 2025.  To get tickets go to www.lyricarts.org. This production is not to be missed. 

Who am I? I’m Ernest Edwards. I am frequently at a play, musical, opera, comedian, concert and the movies. I’ve been going to theater productions since the 1990’s. Started with Broadway shows on tour with the Broadway on Hennepin series in downtown Minneapolis, and the Broadway at the Ordway series at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in downtown St. Paul. I have also seen stage productions in Chicago, Toronto, Las Vegas, London and New York City.