Complicated Fun: the Minneapolis Music Scene
History Theatre
Star Tribune- Somewhat Recommended
"...That said, Berks' homage - his mixtape love letter to Minneapolis, as he calls it - struggles to generate the urgent necessity, the surprise and glee of an era that was full of it. Too often, his characters sound like human Wikipedias, in breathless conversation delivering a chunk of the history that they are living. The wincing taste of a precious after-school special flashes when the idea is being peddled that punk and funk were political antidotes to Reagan's America. It's just a bit too pat. Can't rock 'n' roll just be a great party?"
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Graydon Royce
How Was The Show- Somewhat Recommended
"...Okay. Do you hate rock music? Insist that your plays be quiet and well-made and accessible? If so, Complicated Fun might not be for you. But if you’re in the other camp (here we go again with the categories) you might should check Complicated Fun out."
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John Olive
Aisle Say Twin Cities- Somewhat Recommended
"...The musical isn't without its faults: the band under Nic Delcambre is excellent, but the sound quality could be improved; the dialogue jumps from First Avenue's management team, to the dance floor, to the record store, often in a confusing jumble; and, finally, the sub-plot involving the teenage couple could have had a better story arc. Despite that, the show is an entertaining bit of Minnesota history and, more than that, a fitting tribute to Prince's legacy and our national musical influence. Playwright Alan Berks should be commended for tackling this complex tale and the History Theatre for staging it. Little did they know that it would be so timely and sadly prescient."
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Christine Sarkes
One Girl Two Cities- Recommended
"...Complicated Fun brought me back to my coming-of-age years, and I easily identified with Boy - a kid from suburbia trying to figure things out and find a place in the world. Music can make you feel important, and it's such a deeply personal and unique experience to each of us. That moment, though, when you connect with a few song lyrics and feel like there's someone out there who truly understands you, that's not something anyone can ever take away from you. This show presents that feeling tenfold thanks to a talented, passionate cast, and the soundtrack of the Twin Cities circa 1980s. This show is us. It's home. And it's ours."
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Laura vanZandt
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