The Pride had a wonderful opening weekend, and we’ve gotten some good buzz and great reviews. Here’s a rapid-fire list.

REVIEWS
John Olive at HowWasTheShow.com raved, calling it “a terrific play.”
Claude Peck at the Star Tribune says, “It’s easy to recommend an evening so full of tears and laughter, pathos and insight.”

INTERVIEWS
On the City Pages blog “The Dressing Room,” Ed Huyck interviews our director Noel Raymond.
John Townsend has an interview with us over at Lavender Magazine.

MENTIONS
Max Sparber gave us a bit of ink at Minnpost.com.
At Minnesota Playlist, Alan Berks included The Pride in his article about challenging, exciting theatre this Fall.
The current issue of Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine lists us in the theatre Top Ten in their Fall Arts Preview.

Wanna see what the play looks like? Michal Daniel shot some really lovely photos of the show, some of which are online.

We run through October 16th! Every Wednesday night is pay-what-you-can! There are also some performances where Pillsbury House offers free child care during the show. Come see us! www.pillsburyhousetheatre.org

http://www.minnesotamonthly.com/media/Minnesota-Monthly/September-2011/Artists-We-Love/

They mention my upcoming role in Alexi Kaye Campbell’s The Pride at Pillsbury House, directed by Noel Raymond, which we’ve just started rehearsing this week. It’s going to be a great play. Gripping, funny, and thought-provoking. I’m excited and honored to be working at Pillsbury House and with super talented actors Matt Guidry, Tracey Maloney, and Paul de Cordova. We run September 16th through October 16th.

Having immediately jumped into new projects, I’ve had little time to mourn the end of the Minnesota Fringe Festival. I’m thrilled and grateful that so many people came to see Hamluke and liked it. We were the #6 selling show of the Festival, were awarded the Encore performance for being the top-selling show in our venue, and maintained an average 4.5 out of 5-kitty rating among 69 audience reviews. We’re overwhelmed at the positive response, and we had a ton of fun producing the show. I’ll miss Hamluke and the entire 2011 Fringe.

Hamluke photos by Eric G.Y. Petersen are available on Flickr.

Pioneer Press dubs Hamluke a Must See!

City Pages calls Hamluke an “entertaining mix” which tells a “fast-paced and engaging version of the original [Hamlet] story.”

“Hamluke delivered not only what it promised, but much more. Just do yourself a favor and buy your tickets NOW.” - Adam Whisner,Minnesota Playlist

“There were moments when the confluence of Mark Hamill, Clarence Wethern and Hamlet were just about perfect. And many excellent moments, often from Lindsay Marcy. And I’m very enthusiastic about any production that dresses children up in costumes that restrict their vision and then makes them toddle about.” - John Middleton, Minnesota Playlist

MPLS.TV recommends Hamluke, praising the “swift, energetic acting and hilarious one-liners.”

Listen to Joshua Humphrey interview Brad Erickson and Clarence Wethern about Hamluke on the Twin Cities Theater Connectionpodcast.

Like Hamluke on Facebook: facebook.com/hamluke

Join the conversation on Twitter! Tags your tweets with the#Hamluke tag!

We had another great audience today (though not sold out this time), and reviews have started pouring in. The audience reviews on the Fringe website have given us an average rating of 4.5 “Kitties” (out of 5), and the reviewers say things like:

“…probably the funniest show I will see this Fringe!”

“..a visual love-fest of costumes and props…”

“Brilliant comedy.”

“This play is genius wrapped in sci-fi, served with a gigantic side of hilarity.”

“…this is the most amazing thing I’m going to see all week.”

The Pioneer Press gave Hamluke the coveted “Must See” rating, saying:

A big strong cast, especially Mike Rylander as both the evil lord Darthius and the puppet Polyodius, Clarence Wethern as the whiny indecisive Hamluke and Mahmoud Hakima channeling Billy Dee Williams as Landocrantz.

I’ve gotta say, I was nervous about what sort of reception we’d receive. I couldn’t be more elated/relieved/grateful/happy. If you want to catch Hamluke, we have three more performance: Tues @ 8:30, Wed @ 10pm, & Fri @ 4pm.

Visit the Hamluke show page for more info or to reserve tickets: www.fringefestival.org/2011/show/?id=1565

Like Hamluke on Facebook: www.facebook.com/hamluke

Join the conversation on Twitter by using the #Hamluke and #mnfringe tags.

I ran into a gentleman the other evening who admitted, “It’s my third time seeing this production of Hamlet. It’s the best one I’ve ever seen. And I’ve seen a couple at the Guthrie…But this one…”

…I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk just a little bit about Clarence Wethern’s turn as Hamlet. Damn.

What can I say? When Wethern portrays Hamlet, I understand, and I care.

If you’re going to see a Hamlet this year, and you should, see this one. Very highly recommended.

Read the full review at TC Daily Planet.

In addition to this review, we’ve gotten some incredible feedback in person from audience members, and there are some lovely audience reviews on Minnesota Playlist. If you’ve seen Hamlet, please consider taking a moment to post a review of your own there.

Two more weekends remain! You have six more chances to see this show. Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm. Visit theatreintheround.org for tickets or more info.

Hamlet Theatre in the Round Trailer from Matt Sciple on Vimeo.

I’m playing Hamlet! Right now! One audience review on Minnesota Playlist calls it “a truly moving performance, a noble mind indeed! Wethern is scary good!” It’s on the internet and true!

Director Matt Sciple assembled the trailer above using video he’s shot during performances. Of course, we all know that watching a handheld, videotaped recording of a play is…problematic. So, please keep that in mind and enjoy the trailer!

Before we opened, director Matt Sciple & I sat down with Josh Humphrey for an interview on the TC Theater Connection podcast. Listen to it here and be happy!

Tonight is the start of our third weekend. The response has been very positive, and I’m proud of my work. Sadly, the papers (Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, City Pages) have declined to review us for murky reasons, and needless to say, I’m frustrated about that. It’s my Hamlet, for cryin’ out loud ‘n’ stuff.

If you’ve seen Hamlet, please consider taking a moment to post an audience review on Minnesota Playlist. It may not seem like it, but even a few reviews on that online hub of Twin Cities theatre can make a real difference.

‘Jeeves’ is a crowd pleaser
by Ed Huyck, Lakeshore Weekly News

Old Log finds comic butler in Jeeves
by William Randall Beard, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Ed Huyck calls it “breezy and madcap,” and Randy Beard says it’s “quite funny and entertaining.”

Jeeves in Bloom by Margaret Raether, directed by Tom Stolz, runs through Feb 5, 2011. Visit www.oldlog.com or call 952-474-5951 for tickets.

Jeeves in Bloom is now playing through February 5th, 2011 (whoa, that’s a long time).

The Lake Minnetonka area paper Lakeshore Weekly News has published an article about our show by Ed Huyck. Check it out:

Bertie Wooster, Jeeves come to Old Log

For more info and to purchase tickets, head over to www.oldlog.com.

Carin Bratlie, director
Keith Prusak, actor – “Heironimo”
Me, actor – “Lorenzo”
Kit Gordon – dramaturg

Go listen! http://bit.ly/d16639

Chris Roberts caught up with me at Caffetto last week for an interview and to record snippets of me actually working on line memorization.

Go to MPR’s website to listen to the entire piece and see photos.