City Pages - December 17, 2004

The Eight: Reindeer Monologues

Those who've made the annual pilgrimage to Holidazzle with offspring in tow (yes, dear one, the sparkly rotating snowman is quite cool, as it was last year) might be forgiven for developing a hankering for hearty Yuletide cynicism. Additionally, it might well verge on churlish for a theatergoer to complain about our fondest institutions, large and small, filling their seats with variations on holiday sentimentality. But complain we shall. Ensemble Productions takes a shot at all we used to hold dear with this tell-all by Jeff Goode, in which the reindeer spill their guts about the sordid truth at the North Pole. Much rumor, innuendo, and outright slander follow. It isn't so surprising, come to think of it, given the dodgy work conditions in the toy workshop and the six months of darkness at the North Pole. If you know any children who believe in Santa, and have witnessed the gorgeous mix of credulity and greed that it entails, you know that this one is for adults only. Let's not puncture any more sweet beliefs this year. $15. 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. --Quinton Skinner EVERY TU,TH-F DEC 3-23, 2004

Bryant-Lake Bowl
810 W Lake St, Mpls.; 612.825.8949