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Problem Solved
MINNEAPOLIS – In 2022, Christina Baldwin decided to tour the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis.
On a TV in one of the rooms, an 18-minute physical comedy sketch was playing on loop. The 1963 German TV skit depicts a butler named James going through great lengths to help his employer, Miss Sophie, celebrate her 90th birthday.
Having outlived all of her friends, Miss Sophie had no one left to invite to her annual dinner party. So, her dutiful butler decided to act out the role of her departed friends during the celebration, resulting in mishaps and humorous outcomes.
The skit – called Dinner for One – has been traditionally viewed on New Year’s Eve all over Europe since 1972.
When first watching the skit, Baldwin was grieving the loss of her mother and trying to figure out where to channel her loss.
Then, suddenly, it came to her.
“What struck me was an idea for a show that is grounded in great love and empathy for how hard it is to change our traditions once we have lost someone important to us,” the Minneapolis-based artist said. “All of the physical comedy, the pratfalls and slapstick silliness, seemed so necessary. We laugh and cry, but life keeps moving on.”
The idea stuck with Baldwin, so, as the artistic director for the Jungle Theater in Minneapolis, she decided to introduce the idea to her colleagues and fellow creatives in the Twin Cities, Jim Lichtscheidl and Sun Mee Chomet.
Together, they created their own rendition of Dinner for One – a show that, in Baldwin’s words, “is about how we care for the people we love, how we provide what they need, how sometimes we need to have space to remember the people that we miss and, sometimes, we need to just have a good belly laugh.”
Returning for its third season at the Jungle Theater from December until Jan. 4, the comedic show features live music, two sets of actors and moments of improvisation, guided by the audience.
“There are prompts that the audience provides before the show that the actors incorporate into each performance,” Baldwin said. “You will truly never see the same show twice.”
This year, for example, Baldwin – who is also the director of the show – is sharing the role of Miss Sophie with St. Paul-based actor Joy Dolo.
Lichtscheidl is sharing the role of James with Minneapolis-based actor Tyson Forbes.
“It’s a unique holiday story. So different from what you would normally see around the holidays,” Dolo said. “Each show is slightly different based on the actors and the audience. It’s a fun one to see multiple times.”
The Jungle Theater encourages those who wish to attend to pay what they can, with tickets starting at $15. Tickets can be purchased at the theater’s website. There will be a special performance on New Year’s Eve.
“The Jungle is a cozy theater, especially in the winter,” Baldwin said. “You really feel like you’re entering Miss Sophie’s living room, and you get a sweet story told through comedy and music in just over an hour (…) Dinner for One at the Jungle Theater has quickly become a holiday tradition for our audiences.”
Call 612-822-7063 for tickets or visit the theater at 2951 Lyndale Ave S. in Minneapolis.
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‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.sctimes.com ’
