Workhouse Theatre scores another hit with Steve Martin’s The Underpants
By: Dan Hylton 03/01/2008
The third season of live theater in North Minneapolis continues to exceed all expectations. A string of Workhouse Theatre Company (WTC) performances were sold out beginning February 14 and running through the final two weekends. A ‘Highly recommended’ testimonial by a noted Twin Cities theater writer. ‘A-List’ status in the arts section of City Pages. Night by night and show by show, the good news and audience size kept building during the run of Workhouse Theatre’s area premiere of Steve Martin’s The Underpants.
It began on Thursday, February 14; the fifth performance of the show, and one typically reserved by Workhouse Theatre as “Camden Night.” On Camden Night, WTC offers all Northside residents a discounted, walk-up ticket price special. Simply by mentioning the “Camden Night” discount at the door, any Northside resident can receive two tickets for $15. And something special happened that night as the Northside residents, some on Valentine’s Day dates, streamed into The Warren. What began as a moderately large pre-show reservation list began growing as patrons kept filing in the door. Soon, ushers had to adjust the standard seating configuration at The Warren to accommodate more guests, and the curtain eventually went up on an anxious capacity crowd. WTC Manager Mark Meuwissen attests that, “The audience transferred that excitement to the cast, who appeared to be very energized from the crowd.” The excitement only grew from there, as the WTC hosted another capacity crowd on Friday the 15th, and an absolute standing room only crowd of 66 on Saturday. The Saturday performance utilized absolutely every last chair in the Warren, eventually requiring the appropriation of Meuwissen’s box-office chair for extra seating. As of Camden News press time, the final weekend was sold-out.
The Workhouse is getting some good press recognition as well. Twin Cities playwright, theatre artist and online theater critic, Matthew A. Everett noted “Workhouse Theatre Co. is settling nicely into their new home at The Warren” and concluded that the show was “Highly recommended. The Underpants and Workhouse Theatre are well worth the trip.”
Next up for WTC is ‘Night Mother by Marsha Norman, a play for which they received a standing ovation during last year’s Reader’s Theatre series. In May it returns for a full theatrical treatment. This haunting and unforgettable play, which received the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, will be directed by Cris Tibbetts and will feature Camden’s own Miriam Monasch in her first appearance on the Workhouse Stage. Local theatre artists, Sarah J. Leigh and Mark Webb will return as Scenic Designer and Lighting Designer, respectively.
Gertrude (Shana Eisenberg) and Louise (Lindsay Timmington) are speechless as Versati (Dan Hylton) takes measurements in the WTC Production of The Underpants. Photo by Duane Atter.