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Regional Reviews: Minneapolis/St. Paul Fifty Shades of Gravy Also see Arthur's review of Hir
As expected, the show takes flight by riffing on a certain current popular book and movie, with its exploration of some of the more extremes among sexual behaviors. However, at the onset the audience is cautioned that the show will not be a presentation of "Fifty Shades of Gray" as much as a skewering of those who were hoping for such a presentation. In fact, the sketches do include ways in which people who have, or have not, read the book have taken its narrative to heart, but soon veer into many other current topics, including political correctness, racial profiling, media overkill, uber-workout regimens, information overload, and Taylor Swift. All of the sketches, and a couple of original songs tossed in, are funny, though some hit their targets more closely than others. Humor is largely a personal response, so I can say that for me a running sketch about a white woman's excitement when the car she is riding in, being driven by her black boyfriend, is pulled over by a police officer is a winner, as is a song about the coded language used to disguise racist attitudes ("urban culture" anyone? How about "entitlement society"?). Both Fox News and public television receive satirical dressing downs, and a sketch that demonstrates the impossibility of even the most inane proposition getting through our grid-locked Congress is hilarious, while painfully close to the truth. Finally, a sketch set in a Men's Wearhouse draws great laughs from the dilemma of selling gender-based merchandise in a society that is bursting open the constraints of gender. Along with the writing, what makes or breaks sketch comedy are the players, and Brave New Workshop has a terrific team that has both written and perform these pieces. While all five shoulder their share of the show, and earn many a guffaw, Lauren Anderson stands out for her ability to exaggerate a recognizable character to the point of absurdity. Still, the entire cast, whose members also include Bobby Gardner, Andy Hilbrands, Tom Reed and Taj Ruler, bring the best out of each sketch and have great chemistry with one another. Anyone with even a passing acquaintance with the way we live today should find themselves laughing throughout Fifty Shades of Gravy. The writing is smart enough to compliment the audience's astuteness, the delivery zany enough to keep us from taking any of it too seriously. Be forewarned, though, a tolerance for blue language and subject matter is necessary. Fifty Shades of Gravy continues at the Brave New Workshop through May 2, 2015. 824 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN. Tickets: $18.00 - $36.00. $4.00 discount available for seniors (65+), military personnel and students with ID. For tickets call 612-332-6620 or go to theatre.bravenewworkshop.com. Written and Performed by: Lauren Anderson, Bobby Gardner, Andy Hilbrands, Tom Reed, and Taj Ruler; Director: Caleb McEwen; Musical Director: Peter Guertin; Technical Director: Matthew Vichlach.
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