Weekend Arts Roundup: From Darkness into Light
March 19, 2015
MPR News Arts Reporter Marianne Combs joins Jill Riley and Sean McPherson (in for Steve Seel) to talk about three productions that deal, successively, from heavy, dark subject matter to purely light-hearted fare.
The Woodsman — Presented by Theatre Pro Rata, this play is getting rave reviews for work dealing with a very complex topic. The story centers on a convicted child molester who has served his 12 years in prison and returns to his hometown with a determination to conquer his past and to be a better person. This weekend is the last weekend of the production, and it stages at Nimbus Theatre in Minneapolis.
There are Other Worlds — At Intermedia Arts, this show features aerialists … AERIALISTS! This show is actually a serious story about an African-American woman who is a political activist and very into yoga, but is serving time in prison for a crime of passion. She has two teenage daughters on the outside, and she is trying to rebuild her relationship with these two girls while still in prison. In addition to aerial arts, this production also includes hip hop and jazz to tell this complicated and moving story. Performances run March 19 to 21 at Intermedia Arts in Minneapolis.
Boeing Boeing — This 1960s farce is getting great reviews. It's the story of a man who has Italian, American and German fiancees; all are flight attendants, so the man keeps them in rotation. But when all three women show up at the man's Paris apartment at the same time, chaos ensues. "Strong cast, strong director, funny topic, great opportunity to just belly-laugh for just silly reasons," Marianne says. Torch Theater presents this play at the Minneapolis Theatre Garage at the corner of Franklin and Lyndale in Minneapolis, and it runs until April 4.
Marianne Combs joins The Current's Morning Show for the Weekend Arts Roundup every Thursday at 8:30 a.m. Read all the latest arts news from MPR News.