REVIEW: No Country for Two Old Men

The Brave New Workshop has once again brought its sharp wit and creative flair to the stage with their latest election-themed sketch comedy show, No Country for Two Old Men. The show opens with a focus on President Biden’s age and perceived frailty, a nod to the overarching theme of generational change in politics.  Regardless of your political stance, however, the execution felt flat, with the jokes mainly faulting Biden just for succumbing to the passage of time.

Given the recent shakeup in the political landscape, the production faced significant hurdles. One notable challenge was adapting their cast, initially designed to portray an elderly white man, to instead capture the essence of a dynamic, black woman like Kamala Harris. Despite the constraints, the team handled this shift commendably, showcasing their adaptability and commitment to fresh, relevant humor.

And of course, the new Minnesota angle of the race was the elephant (donkey?) in the room.  You can’t fault the writers for not foreseeing the sudden star turn of  Minnesota Governor Tim Walz over the past two weeks.  Given his local significance, though, it was essential for the show to address him, but the portrayal felt rushed and wasn’t satisfying in its brevity.  Hopefully, the writers/cast can flesh out that segment in the coming weeks and swap out some of the more outdated skits.

While it struggled to match the up-to-the-minute, nuanced, and tailored commentary that modern social media algorithms curate from a vast array of comedic voices, overall, No Country for Two Old Men provided a lively night out, away from the aforementioned doomscrolling.  The show was especially entertaining for audience members who haven’t been to a show in a while.  In an unexpected twist, I found the bonus improv comedy following the scripted production to be more engaging and enjoyable, as did a good portion of the audience, who seemed to appreciate the live, spontaneous humor.

In conclusion, while the show was fun and well-intentioned, it didn’t quite measure up as sharp and impactful satire on par with BNW’s past election shows. Maybe this was emblematic of the fatigue that gripped the electorate before President Biden dropped out, but only time will tell if this is a blip or a larger challenge for the group as we careen toward election day in less than three months.

No Country for Two Old Men is at the Brave New Workshop Theatre in Minneapolis through November 2, 2024.