The A.V. Club samples 8 Fringe Festival shows

The Minnesota Fringe Festival operates under a more-is-more ethos. The number of performances and places to see them make it impossible to take it all in—and, really, that’s okay. That said, the country’s largest unjuried fringe festival is not just one giant crapshoot. There are many certifiably good shows over the festival’s 11 days, ranging from a Joseph Scrimshaw-penned play to more obscure but equally Minnesotan productions, such as The Crock Pot II, a play so Lutheran it probably couldn’t take place anywhere else. Beginning Thursday, festival-goers can take in almost 170 shows at nearly 20 venues. The obvious downside of such a huge festival is that it can feel overwhelming, but the Fringe gods have wizened up to the powers of the Internet, posting scores of video samples of this year’s acts to give audiences a taste of the cake before they commit to eating the whole thing. 

Tickets to all shows cost $12 for adults ($10 for students and seniors 65 and over, $5 for kids 12 and under) and also require a one-time purchase of a $4 Fringe admission button (kids exempt from button), which is good for all subsequent shows. Multi-show passes range from $50 to $225. 

Here’s a look at just a few of the shows that have The A.V. Club intrigued. Be sure to check out the audience review section for each show on the festival’s website, too, if you want to hear more about what others think before attending.

The Crock Pot II
Minnesotans have a long tradition of poking fun at Lutherans. From Garrison Keillor to Ole and Lena, The Crock Pot II continues the brave tradition of self-mockery. With a tagline like “when Minnesota kitsch meets Bible study b*tch,” you know you’re in for some of that barely irreverent Minnesota humor. Bonus: Perfectly pleasant-looking Minnesotans try their hand at rapping.

4 Clowns
The art of clowning is not actually considered to be an art by most people. But, obviously, there are those who take their clowning very, very seriously, and if the reviews and awards from the press and fringe contests across the country mean anything to you, 4 Clowns is the type of show that deserves respect. And who wouldn’t want to see a clown show that includes a warning for “graphic violence, simulated sexual acts, and other wanton behavior”?

I Love You (We’re Fucked)
I Love You (We’re Fucked) falls into the category of “plays that have names that get your attention.” Described mockingly by its one-man writer/performer Kevin J Thornton as “an hour of vulgarity with a Christian edge,” the show appears to be something you don’t want to bring your kids to. In other words, this GLBT-themed romp into one man’s sexual history is probably going to be good.

Delores Grimm: Fairy Tale Marriage Counselor
Minneapolis boasts an expanding improv scene. Part of that has to do with the prevalence of shows from established houses like Huge Improv Theater, ComedySportz, and stalwart improv company Brave New Workshop. Bad Wolf Productions was borne of these local jewels, and in this production, we see Dr. Grimm acting as relationship advisor for the Disney elite, those characters forever in search of love ever-after. As mentioned, the show is improv, so if you don’t like the way a relationship turned out during one production, there’s always next time.

Uptown: The Musical
Here’s a play ripped from the headlines. After a beloved coffee shop (in this case the fictional Dirty Hipster Coffee Shop) on Lyndale Avenue is threatened by the possible arrival of a—gasp!—chain grocery store, the patrons of the shop join together in musical cohesion in an effort to sing and dance their enemy away. Okay, the last part never happened in real life. But it happens in this show. 

Brain Fighters
Joseph Scrimshaw is not only a Twin Cities theater staple, but his Fringe shows have particularly become a festival must-see. Scrimshaw and the group behind Joking Envelope productions boasts the honor of having last year’s top-selling show at the Fringe—meaning, it beat out around 170 other shows to win the honor. This year’s production involves a wizard who can turn objects into whatever he wants, and it’ll likely be one of the more kid-friendly options at the festival. In other words, it’s not likely the wizard will be turning anyone into a naked version of themselves.

Longing For Qeej
The Twin Cities has one of the largest populations of Hmong people in the United States, but at times, it can be hard to understand the cultural impact the Hmong community has had here. Longing For Qeej showcases traditional dance, storytelling and acrobatics in a colorful and dramatic production that tells the story of the Qeej, a mouth organ that is also a symbol of Hmong culture.