by Wendy Gennaula • August 2, 2008 • “Maggie’s Magical Cat and Other Catastrophes”:http://www.fringefestival.org/2008/show/?id=797 takes an entertaining but truthful look at the difficulties of peer pressure. The play begins with a group of college women studying. When Maggie, the younger sister of one of the students, bursts in to declare “fourth grade sucks” the women proceed to tell Maggie a story. The women assume the roles of Maggie’s peers.
Magdelena Morrow shows us that Maggie’s transformation from an invisible nobody to a top girl does not come without a price. She anchors the show with an honest portrayal that never turns into a stereotype.
Good To Momma is the blog of Wendy Gennaula, one of five bloggers covering the Minnesota Fringe Festival for the Daily Planet.
The title and promotional materials suggest a “Ramona Quimby” or “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”. ( __Maggie and her magical cat playfully engage with audiences to explore the sometimes painful, often comical world of grade-school politics, unconventional families, adoption & other “what-ifs?” of the universe.__) But the content is much more mature than that. Maggie’s cat Magic (Amy Veerkamp) is an expert in clique warfare. She’s definitely not cute and cuddly. Veerkamp also does a nice turn as queen bee Lindsay.
I would not recommend this show to anyone under 9 years old. But that is what makes it a good show for a “tween” or older. All shows shouldn’t be for all ages.
Wendy Gennaula is a singer and actress in the Twin Cities. She is the mother of two extraordinary Fringelings.
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