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.