"Triassic Parq" by Minneapolis Musical Theatre at LUSH Lounge and Theater

Minneapolis Musical Theatre is back with another rare musical, well done. Triassic Parq is another in the vein of the campy spoof musical (see also Silence! The Musical), which is not my favorite kind of musical, especially when I'm not that familiar with the source material, but it's a lot of fun. This rock musical is a loose retelling of Jurassic Park from the point of view of the dinosaurs. I don't really know the movie (I pretty much only watched it recently when Minnesota Fringe did it for their annual Five-Fifths fundraiser), so I can't speak to the plot similarities or references. But it's probably kind of like what Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is to Hamlet (for my fellow theater nerds) - showing us what's going on with the minor characters on the other side of the main action. In this case, those minor characters are dinosaurs, who are also going through some challenges and transitions of their own. Triassic Parq is a celebration of community, friendship, identity, and finding oneself. It's playing Saturdays and Sundays (plus one Monday night pay-what-you-can performance) through April 13 at LUSH Lounge and Theater in Northeast Minneapolis, which is the perfect venue for this show. You can also arrive early and have dinner or brunch in their dining room before heading into the event space for the show.

The musical is basically a coming-of-age story, as the Velociraptor of Innocence has a birthday and celebrates becoming a woman (dinosaur). She then has a bit of an existential crisis, and goes on a journey outside of the fenced in world of the dinosaurs in the park. There are some human encounters on the margins of the story (they're the one with the guns), but mostly it's the dinosaurs banding together to save themselves. The original rock score has a number of fun songs that reference the movie, including one about the Scientific Method (which is the way to my heart). They're all performed at full volume; there's not much room for subtlety in this show, musically or emotionally. It's full on camp, but also has a sweetness in the relationships and friendships. 

the cast of Triassic Parq (photo by Unser Imagery)

Kjer Whiting directs the talented cast, who fully commit to the campy tone and sing their dinosaur hearts out. Highlights include Max Kile as the childlike and endearing Velociraptor of Innocence, Nick Miller and Christine Killian as the estranged siblings representing Faith and Science, and Caitlin Sparks and Jake Mathey as BFF T-Rexes, the former with some impressive vocal moments. They're accompanied by a rockin' four-piece band led by Music Director Amanda Weis, who also plays the role of Pianosaurus and receives some fun teasing from the dinosaurs.

The stage at LUSH is not large, and they also have other events and shows happening, so the set is by necessity minimal. But projections of the landscape and park buildings help set the scene, and I particularly love the adorable way they represent blood (spoiler alert). The dinosaurs aren't really dressed like dinosaurs, rather in fun colorful outfits with make-up and hair to match (projections by Christian Unser, costumes and make-up by Robin Gilmer).

It's worth noting that all of the dinosaurs are female (as I guess is true in the movie?), but some of them start to become male, so that the dinosaurs have the ability to procreate outside of the Lab (a word they use like humans use the word God). Several members of the cast are transgender or non-binary, lending authenticity to the gender fluid storyline, and making this a timely and relevant show with the recent attacks on the transgender community. But Triassic Parq isn't about the hate and discrimination in our world, it's a joyful celebration of people... er, dinosaurs... becoming exactly who they are.