Since I last posted I've also joined a couple of writer's groups: one for the children's book and one for playwrighting. It's been awhile since I've last been part of such a group (Critical Mass - see this page on my website) and I can't tell you how good it feels to be part of a writing community once again. It brings to mind the first writer's group I ever attended: The Alnwick Writer's Group which met in an upper room of the Plough. I stumbled across the group not long after beginning a study abroad program in Alnwick, England run by Saint Cloud State University out of Alnwick Castle (did I ever mention I once lived in a castle?). For one meeting, prompted by a challenge from John, an older gentleman who had a very deliberate way of speaking that made you hang on every word, I wrote a short epic tale. That tale, of Sir Sherlacar and the Second Ring of Shalamanar, grew and grew until it became my first novel, Edelsha. Funny sometimes how things begin.

I've never forgotten my time in that group and how they welcomed a young American student into their midst. As a writer it is easy to neglect the importance of community with all the time we spend hunched over pen and paper or a computer. But we all need to break away from that from time to time and surround ourselves with others who will offer guidance and encouragement and remind us that we're not the only ones on this journey.

The City Pages and TC Daily Planet's Matthew Everett have both done a fine job of summarizing the experience without giving too much away. As the audience you arrive at the headquarters of Universal Hydro Solutions for a guided tour, although it soon becomes clear that we are there for an entirely different purpose. The audience travels from room to room (guided by coordinator Jennifer Probst) where everyone must work together to solve various puzzles in order to advance the plot.

Puzzle creator David Pisa is no novice when it comes to devising unique and creative challenges (the details of which I won't give away) and Saboteur certainly does not disappoint. Pisa knows how to keep the goal of a puzzle straightforward while still providing some challenge in arriving at the solution. And cooperation amongst the audience is key (in fact, one puzzle would be absolutely impossible to complete without it). As other reviews have noted, don't be afraid to jump in with an idea and try things out. The dynamics of each group will be a little different, but there's room for both those who jump in immediately and those who want to hang back a little more and observe. Though if I may say so, my group was particularly top-notch: we finished the show in a record 68 minutes.

One criticism I do have of Saboteur is that I didn't find the characters and storyline as engaging as 1926 Pleasant. Here the story felt more like it existed in order to provide a rationale for the puzzles rather than the puzzles pulling me deeper into the story as in Pleasant. To be fair, there isn't a lot of room in a production like this to advance the story with how much time must be devoted to the solving of the puzzles, but I was hoping for a little more. Aayush Chandan and Emma Gochberg as the cast give solid if not stand-out performances.

But that being said, Saboteur is fun ride throughout and I love the active challenge it provides. If you missed 1926 Pleasant, then be sure not to miss this one as well. Tickets are limited (only 15 per show) so get them now! 4 out of 5 stars for a unique theatrical experience.

The cover and description for Edelsha are below. So (insert shameless plug here) support your local independent author and buy a copy. It's a fun read, I promise.

Edelsha, and the Tale of the Third Ring
Swept suddenly into the fantastical world of Edelsha, Geoff enters a land plagued by civil war within and growing threats without. The hopes of the battered kingdom, and the young princess who rules it, all rest upon Geoff's fulfillment of an ancient prophecy. And so the quest for the third ring of Shalamanar thrusts the young hero unprepared into a world filled with dragons, goblins, and evils without name. With only the panther Sylran, the gryphon Wehrya, and the dryad Amyla to aid him, Geoff must battle against the sinister designs of a centuries-old enemy who desires all of Edelsha for his own. Stories within stories help weave together this tale of adventure, friendship, and sacrifice.

"Poorly Attended" by Kevin T. Houle

I've often had similar thoughts myself. As a writer it's hard for me to sit back and just enjoy a play when the script isn't top notch. I'm constantly pulled out of the play thinking about how the playwright chose to structure the piece, the awkwardness of that last line, and so on. Bad acting pulls me out as well, and so after reading Kevin's piece I'm glad I'm not a director! I've yet to be distracted by the doorknobs.

This won't be a review per se. As a member of this year's festival committee I can hardly claim to be objective, though I do think we picked one of the best slates of shows the festival has seen in recent years. I attended a runthrough last Sunday which went extremely well, but it was great to see the performance with all the final touches of costumes, lights and so on last night. So far the festival has sold out four of the six performances, with only limited seats left for the remaining two. Fellow playwright Claudia Haas is responsible for spearheading the 10-minute festival at Lakeshore seven years ago, and at last night's opening it was clear she took some well-deserved pride in how it has grown and taken root. She along with several other directors have participated in all seven festivals to-date, and I think it's a testament to the festival that directors, actors and writers are drawn back to it year after year. I've participated twice before as an actor, and while I wish I could h ave done so again this year, it was great fun to serve on the committee and then be able to enjoy the final result as an audience member.

For me the highlights of this year's festival are Mark Harvey Levine's brilliant comedy Misfortune (my wife would also have far too much fun if a fortune cookie predicted my imminent demise), and Allie Munson and George M. Calger are perfect in their roles. Patrick Gabridge's look at theater behind-the-scenes in Curse the Darkness is simply genius (I still can't get over the side plot of trying to light the matches). Both Mark and Patrick are fellow members of the Playwright Binge (as is Dale Griffiths Stamos with the drama Going Home, another excellent script), and I couldn't help but feel a tinge of pride to see Bingers make up a third of the festival. Some of my other favorite scripts include Rebecca Gorman's Worse Than Cold Feet, Rich Rubin's Food for Thought, D.W. Surine's The 8-Minute Murder Mystery, and the utterly charming and sweet Porch Revival by Mark Rigney.

So I wish the cast and crew the best of luck with the rest of the weekend's run. If you're local to MN and can manage to wrangle a ticket, I encourage you to do so. I hope to be a part of the committee again for 2012, which means in a few months we start all over again.