Minnesota Fringe Festival 2012: "Candide" at the U of M Rarig Center Thrust

Overhead after the show: "Now I don't have to read the book. Good."

Candide, Four Humors Fringe show this year, is a satire of the 1759 French satire by Voltaire. And while I don't think it's absolutely necessary to have read the novella beforehand (I didn't), I have to disagree with the woman who said this. Not having read the book creates a slight disadvantage, as you're not quite as privy to all the jokes.

The 60-minute show runs through the plot of Candide effortlessly, and the six-person cast does an outstanding job of bringing to life the many characters of Candide. The theater was mostly full for its first show on Friday August 3, and I suspect it will maintain a healthy audience for its remaining four shows.