Sketch comedy has been Brave New Workshop’s modus operandi since the first revue took place in a small cafe in northeast Minneapolis in 1961. The presidential election show was a quadrennial tradition from 1964 to 2016 before being canceled in 2020 due to COVID.
But Brave New Workshop has once again captured the spirit of the current election with No Country for Two Old Men. And since quick thinking is an essential part of the troupe’s improvisation training, it’s only natural that the events of the past month have forced the writing/performing team to revise the piece again and again.
For example, this track seemed outdated when President Joe Biden dropped his re-election bid. But it works in the context of the opening song, a recap of the campaign so far, allowing the audience to laugh at events that may have seemed too concerning at the time.
The show is a landslide winner in the political comedy category. “No Country for Two Old Men” is the funniest thing the company has come up with since pre-pandemic times, a high-energy collection of sketches and songs that throws caution to the wind and could be the ideal antidote to news-stricken gloom.
As television viewers speculate about who will play Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on Saturday Night Live, it is important to remember that this show was made possible by pioneers like Brave New Workshop and contemporaneous shows like Chicago’s Second City and Los Angeles’ Groundlings.
And please note that it’s much more exciting to experience this kind of comedy up close in an intimate space like the theater that now bears the name of company founder Dudley Riggs. Not only that, but the lines are often much better and more sophisticated than on “SNL.”
Even if you’d rather avoid political discussion altogether, you might need a chance to laugh at everything that’s happened over the past few months. If you’ve been watching Biden’s decline with profound sadness, check out the hilarious version of him offered by newcomer Jeffrey Nolan, who brings a smile to your face as he croaks about “theatrical achievements” and “exploding health care.”
Or enjoy campaign tips from Doug Eithercott’s Pander Bear, who helps simplify candidate Lauren Anderson’s campaign speech. And see division in action with a game of Black or Woman or the dance-pop antidote Isabella Dunsieth’s Madonna-esque Ethnically Ambiguous.
Admittedly, the material is not entirely convincing. Denzel Belin’s burlesque-like confession to old white politicians and a short tutorial on “Project 2025” lack the cleverness or bite of the other parts. But in most parts of this revue, the bite prevails, and that is a welcome return after a few years of post-pandemic caution.
Brave New Workshop artist Caleb McEwen’s direction is brisk and expressive, reminiscent of the wonderfully acerbic shows he co-created with his wife, Katy McEwen, earlier this century. Some may complain that No Country for Two Old Men doesn’t offer a level playing field, but it will likely evolve to include more criticism of Kamala Harris and Walz.
And our governor makes a guest appearance thanks to Eithercott. With a little more time, his imitation could rival his accurate Donald Trump.
“No Country for Two Old Men” by Brave New Workshop
When: Until 2 November
Where: Dudley Riggs Theater, 824 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis
Tickets: $40–32, available at bravenewworkshop.org
Capsule: The bite is back at Brave New Workshop.
