Minneapolis/St. Paul - "Glensheen"

Regional Reviews: Minneapolis/St. Paul

Glensheen
History Theatre
Review by Deanne McDonald Haywood | Season Schedule

Also see Arty's reviews of Kimberly Akimbo, Romeo and Juliet and The Comedy of Errors

Sandra Struthers, Jen Maren, and Wendy Lehr
Photo by Rick Spaulding

When Managing Director Karen Mueller and Interim Artistic Director Laura Leffler stood on stage to welcome the opening night audience to the 10-year anniversary production of the History Theatre's Glensheen, Leffler asked audience members to raise their hands if they'd seen the production two, three, four, or five times, and commented on the original musical's staying power. This was my second visit to Glensheen, again directed by former Artistic Director Ron Peluso, and it only deepened my appreciation for this creative dark comedy forcefully driven by Jeffrey Hatcher's book and Chan Poling's music and lyrics.

Glensheen centers on Jen Maren as Marjorie Congdon, the adopted daughter who somehow manages to escape conviction for Minnesota's own "Crime of the Century," the murder of her adopted mother, 85-year-old heiress Elisabeth Congdon, and her 63-year-old nurse, Velma Pietila, in the 39-room Glensheen mansion in Duluth in the summer of 1977. Maren is once again excellent and finds biting humor in the frustrated and jealous Marjorie, gamely supported by a stellar ensemble cast who all find ample individual moments to shine in this fast-moving murder mystery.

No significant differences were apparent in this year's production, nor do any feel warranted. It still benefits from Rick Polenek's set design which gives us the infamous staircase as well as the classically grand feel of the Glensheen mansion. E. Amy Hill's effective costume design understands the humor of the piece, while appropriately dressing Maren as the epitome of femme fatale. Similarly, Tinia Moulder's choreography often generates laughs through its witty comment on the lyrics. Peluso's direction keeps the production moving at a breakneck speed, earning the penultimate "Torch Song," Marjorie's final breaking point.

As Roger Caldwell, Dane Stauffer continues to find dimension and consistent laughs in Marjorie's hapless patsy of a second husband. As both murder victims, defense lawyer "not Ron Meshbesher," and even a cameo as Agatha Christie, Wendy Lehr is once again a standout and appears to be having a blast. Ensemble members Ruthie Baker, Gary Briggle, Randy Schmeling, and Sandra Struthers have rich, flexible voices, and each have their own comedic and poignant moments to shine.

I cannot recommend this production highly enough. As someone who is generally a fan of the History Theatre, but sometimes finds their productions overly didactic, Glensheen feels playful, irreverent and imaginative. The music and lyrics are memorable, and the balance with the tight five-piece orchestra is terrific. Hatcher and Poling take creative license with the motivations and dynamics of this crime, and the result is pure entertainment that may lead you to further explore this straight out of the Cohen brothers' Fargo moment in Minnesota's past.

Glensheen runs through July 27, 2025, at History Theatre, 30 E 10th St., Saint Paul MN. For tickets and information, please visit historytheatre.com or call 651-292-4323.