Goosebumps Phantom of the Auditorium - December 2025

Goosebumps Phantom of the Auditorium 

Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards

Over the weekend I was at Park Square Theatre for the musical Goosebumps Phantom of the Auditorium based on on the R.L.Stine’s book series.  This musical has book & lyrics by John MacLay, and music, lyrics, orchestrations, & arrangements by Danny Abosch. This musical is directed by Ellen Fenster-Gharib with additional direction & choreography by Jack Moorman. 

I have not read The Goosebumps series of books from the 1990’s. Based on the title, this musical is exactly what I thought it was going to be. A modern story that pays homage to the Andrew Lloyd Musical Phantom of the Opera. The high school is ready for the annual musical.  The drama teacher has chosen the play The Phantom.  Which the school says is cursed. No sooner do rehearsals begin that the strange things that can’t be explained begin to happen. The trap door that hasn’t been used in ages, leads to some underground lair deep under the schools basement.  A mysterious figure keeps spooking the cast. 

I also liked the scenery for the this production designed by Micheala Lochen. The scenery easily transforms from a high school hallway, to the drama room, to the stage, to the mysterious lair deep below the high school.  

This production also made good use of the aisles. Which helped with some of the spooky moments in the musical. We the audience, got an up close experience with the spooky figure haunting this high school musical.

The songs are fun, the cast is amazing, and the story is very good.  Even if you are not familiar with the musical  The Phantom of the Opera, you will enjoy this musical.  Including the intermission, the show runs for about 1 hour 45 minutes.  There’s one week left to see this wonderful production.  Musical runs through December 14, check out www.parksquaretheatre.org for tickets. 

The Murder on the LInks - December 2025

The Murder on the Links

Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards

The Murder on the Links is the third Agatha Christie mystery that I have seen at Theatre in the Round.  I have to say Agatha Christie and Theatre in the Round are a very nice combination. They mix very well together.  

This play is a new adaptation by Kate Danley.  What I liked about this script is that Captain Arthur Hastings (played by Jake Leif) narrates moments of the story.  I also liked Ben Tallen as Hercule Poirot.  His Poirot was sauve, kind and intelligent. 

What I really liked about this production, in addition to the cast, was that about 5 minutes before the play begins the cast began to appear on stage and mingle with each other. We got to see the Gardner tending to the flower beds, folks enjoying  a beverage, taking the baby stroller out to enjoy the afternoon sun.  It was a great way to get us into the world of the play.  I also liked how for this play that Theatre in the Round used every performance space.  

Director Linda Paulson had a great cast to work with in brining this mystery play to life.  Along with Set Designer Madeline Achen and costumes by Colleen O’Dell and Hunter Goldsmith.  The play takes place in early Spring 1920.  

The story begins with Poirot, now retired, being asked to take on a case. A man feels like his life is in danger. So Poirot and Hastings head for France with haste. By the time they get to the town, the gentlemen is already dead!  Who killed him and why? This case has a sense of Deja Vu for Poirot.  There’s also a French detective who has the lead in this case. Every time Poirot finds an important clue, this detective writes if off and says that is not what we’re looking for.  Those clues do help Poirot to figure out the story and find out who really did commit the murder and why.  The French Detective even goes so far as to arrest the wrong person, in this story everyone is a suspect.  This moment allows Poirot to root out who really did it.  As with Agatha Christie stories, all is revealed in the end.  

To find out who did it and why, check out www.theatreintheround.org for tickets.  Play runs through December 21, 2025. 

Plaid Tidings - December 2025

Plaid Tidings

Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards

Last night I went to the first preview performance of Plaid Tidings at the Black Box theater at Artistry in Bloomington.  The show opens Saturday night.  Let me tell you, there are no changes required to be made to this production.  It was great last night! The whole point of having preview performances is to “rehearse” with an audience to gauge the audience’s reaction to the show and to make any changes to the show.  I do like being part of the process. 

Plaid Tidings is the sequel to Forever Plaid. I still have not seen Forever Plaid. It’s about a 60’s quartet who passed away before their time and got a chance to come back to do their concert, one night only.  Now all this time later, the powers that be have decided that they need to come back for one night and do a Christmas show.  There is an excellent set list that this foursome performs. 

There is a lot of Holiday shows in the Twin Cities this season.  Plaid Tidings is a great addition if you are looking for a fun holiday themed show to see.  

At the core of this show is the quartet played by Theo Janie-Forman (Frankie), Cris Sanchez (Jinx), Cole Strelecki (Smudge), and Nate Turcotte (Sparky).  Their vocals and harmonies are so on point for this show.  This foursome has comedic timing and talent forever.  

I also need to mention the costumes by Jessica McHugh. Between the plaid suit coats, to the plaid Christmas sweaters.  The costumes were fun and festive.  Also need to mention piano by Bradley Beahen. Bradley added some fun to the show.  Keep an eye on Bradley.  I need to mention the scenery and props by Kate Philips. Lots of props for this show.  The whole show is fun, and wonderful. One moment that is even more special, and is a spoiler alert, there’s a section with bells.  It’s always so magical to hear Christmas songs performed by ringing bells. 

This foursome does put on an amazing show. Great vocals, acting, story, songs, costumes, choreography, and scenery. Check, check, check. It is perfect for the holidays. 

Plaid Tidings is about 2 hours, including the intermission. The show runs through Sunday December 28, 2025.  Check out artistrymn.org for tickets. 

Rollicking! A Winter Carnival Musical - November 2025

Rollicking! A Winter Carnival Musical

Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards

I went to Rollicking! A Winter Carnival Musical at The History Theatre on a Saturday when there was snowfall that made driving slow and cautious. Which was fitting to have a blast of winter on the day you’re seeing a musical about the St. Paul Winter Carnival. 

What I like about The History Theatre. Is their shows are about history, and can also be educational in a fun way.  Rollicking! Is a new musical with Book & Co-Lyrics by Rachel Teagle, and Music and Co-Lyrics by Keith Hovis. The inner lobby of the History Theatre is full of information and history about the St. Paul Winter Carnival. How it got started? Became the annual event that it is today. All these years I’ve lived in the Twin Cities, I have enjoyed some of the events associated with the Winter Carnival, but I never knew the origins and evolution of the Winter Carnival. 

The story takes place in December 1936, St. Paul, Minnesota.  Cap Wigington and his wife Viola Wigington are getting ready to attend a holiday party in the Rondo neighborhood of St. Paul. Cap is also busy trying to complete his design for the Ice Castle at the upcoming Winter Carnival.  Cap and Viola get whisked away to a magical land where King Borealis, his wife Aurora, and their arch nemesis Vulcanus Rex, along with Klondike Kate all live in the magical land.  It’s Cap’s belief in the Winter Carnival that brings back the magic to King Borealis.  Vulcanus Rex is non too happy with this.  Which ties into the real life Winter Carnival where’s the fight at the end of the festival between the Borealis and the Vulcans to determine when winter will end.  

Fun story. It was interesting to learn when Klondike Kate joined the Winter Carnival.  Also that since Cap was not the City Architect, he was not initially credited with designing the ice castle that year. Many years later that omission was corrected.  

Seeing a musical about the local Winter Carnival was a fun treat! Line up the sled or snowmobile and take a ride through the snow to the History Theatre.  This new musical runs through December 2021.  Check out Historytheatre.com for tickets. 

Photo that I took of the stage before the musical begins.