Cherry and Spoon: “Grumpy Old Men: The Musical” by Minneapolis Musical Theatre on the Conn Theater

If Grumpy Old Men needed to be changed into a musical (and I might argue it did not), it positively must be carried out in Minnesota (the place the 1993 movie was set and filmed), and no firm is a more sensible choice to do it than Minneapolis Musical Theatre, whose motto is “rare musicals, well done.” They specialize on this campy spoofy enjoyable style of musical, and at all times take advantage of out of the fabric. That’s positively the case right here. The present is enjoyable with a lot of Minnesota references and does not take itself too severely. But for a musical that premiered in 2018, it is disappointingly sexist in the way in which girls are handled and talked about, with (comparatively) younger, sensible, stunning girls relationship and even marrying literal grumpy previous males many years older than them. But MMT has assembled a profitable forged that makes probably the most of it, with intelligent staging and choreography, for what’s general a enjoyable time on the theater. Grumpy Old Men: The Musical continues at the Conn Theater in South Minneapolis through April 19 only.

If I’ve seen the film, it was so way back I do not bear in mind it, so I can not communicate to how intently the musical follows the film. Set in Wabasha, Minnesota, it focuses on two neighbors, John and Max, who’re lifelong enemies resulting from a way back argument over a girl. When a brand new lady strikes into the home throughout the road, they each battle for her consideration (regardless that she’s a lot youthful than them and will have significantly better choices than these two grumpy previous males). There are additionally a few subplots associated to John’s daughter and Max’s son, who’ve lengthy carried a torch for one another, and the IRS agent who informs John that he owes huge cash in again taxes. In the top a well being scare forces these two frenemies to understand one another.

Jim Ahrens and Ward Eames are well-cast because the titular grumpy previous males, each are charmingly grumpy, but additionally allow us to see the vulnerability beneath the grumpiness of those two widowers who perhaps are simply lonely. Jillian Bader and James Ward play their youngsters because the form of straight males attempting to reel within the craziness of their dads, wanting greater than this small city can supply, with a candy and awkward love story that was the one romance I used to be invested in. Caitlin Burns is nice within the Ann-Margaret function (if a bit too younger for the function), with a beautiful voice and a charisma that makes it apparent why all of the grumpy previous males fall for her. Other highlights within the sturdy ensemble embody Quintin Michael because the proprietor of the bait and apothecary store Chuck, Lisa Denninger as his delightfully ditzy cousin Punky, Kayla Hambeck because the buttoned up IRS agent who loves her job, Christian LeBissoniere because the comically accident-prone mail provider, and Michael Fischetti who’s absolute perfection as Grandpa and will get the most important laughs, even when the character is a gross previous males spouting traces that are not cute in 2026.

With path by Kari Steinback and choreography by Jenny Morris Eisenbraun, the present is fast-paced and stuffed with vitality, with some actually enjoyable and intelligent motion and dancing. Jenny Morris Eisenbraun conducts the eight-piece backstage orchestra. The versatile set is comprised of the 2 doorways of the neighboring homes, which can be rotated to be an ice home and the bait store, with furnishings rolled on and off rapidly to indicate the within of the homes. Cute and intelligent items present a espresso cart, fishing holes, and different native spots, towards the backdrop of a snowy panorama, with an enthralling DIY really feel. The costumes really feel very acquainted to a Minnesota winter – a lot of plaid and puffy vests, boots and stocking hats. (Scenic design by Maggie Mae Sulentic, costume design by Colleen O’Dell.)