You are exactly my cup of tea
This is one of two shows at the Chicago Fringe that I saw twice. You know, you are at a theme park for a few days, then suddenly, it is your last day, so you want to race back to your favorite rides before vacation ends. So it was with Grind. On opening day of Fringe, I spotted all these young actors on 18th Street as happy as could be on the sidewalk near the Dream Theatre, and in unison they were singing "Getting to Know You" from the King and I. I beamed, but had no idea this was the Minneapolis cast of Grind. Their musical is cheesy, giddy, silly, and aw shucks -- exactly the kind of fluff you sometimes want to see. Some lyrics were lost to loud keyboards. Some lines were spoken lickety-split fast. Some of the staging was blocked too far back at the register counter, yet this was a sincere effort, with hints of Rent, Godspell, and Sleepless in Seattle percolating in the mix. On another trip to the Dream Theatre, I caught the bizarre Knee Jerk, which ended with no bows, but finished with the taped music of "Getting to Know You." Returned to Grind on closing night of Fringe, and the beautiful curtain speech proclaimed "this is our last night of our 4-city tour. This is our 20th performance. Together, we all say, that this has been our best summer ever." Good job, one and all.

Reviewed by Lancer on Monday, Sep 6th, 2010

You are exactly my cup of tea
few days, then suddenly, it is your last day, so you want to race back to your favorite rides before vacation ends. So it was with Grind. On opening day of Fringe, I spotted all these young actors on 18th Street as happy as could be on the sidewalk near the Dream Theatre, and in unison they were singing "Getting to Know You" from the King and I. I beamed, but had no idea this was the Minneapolis cast of Grind. Their musical is cheesy, giddy, silly, and aw shucks -- exactly the kind of fluff you sometimes want to see. Some lyrics were lost to loud keyboards. Some lines were spoken lickety-split fast. Some of the staging was blocked too far back at the register counter, yet this was a sincere effort, with hints of Rent, Godspell, and Sleepless in Seattle percolating in the mix. On another trip to the Dream Theatre, I caught the bizarre Knee Jerk, which ended with no bows, but finished with the taped music of "Getting to Know You." Returned to Grind on closing night of Fringe, and the beautiful curtain speech proclaimed "this is our last night of our 4-city tour. This is our 20th performance. Together, we all say, that this has been our best summer ever." Good job, one and all.

Reviewed by Lancer on Monday, Sep 6th, 2010