Katy McEwen, Matthew Vichlach, Denzel Belin, Lauren Anderson, Jon Pumper, Jeffrey Nolan, and Isabella Dunsieth Photo by Hennepin Arts

Starring returning performers Lauren Anderson, Denzel Belin, Isabella Dunsieth, Katy McEwen, and Jeffrey Nolan along with music director Jon Pumper and technical director Matthew Vichlach, the production opens with a hummable "Sesame Street" a la Avenue Q style titular number, "The World Is Burning So I Made Smores," led by Dunsieth, while cast members pop out Muppet-style to cheerfully remind the audience, "Just keep going!"

An NFL Game Day style news broadcast pops up twice in the first act, in which Katy McEwen breaks down and analyzes Trump's cabinet members in a "who's who of who the f—" football announcer style. Following a very funny and punny, on the nose allegory where Dunsieth as Dora the Explorer warns us about the dangers of ICE, Katy McEwen's impassioned Gen X, genius, satirical song "That's Why We Lost" viciously incinerates the progressive complacency of "NPR tote bag liberals" who didn't vote because to them there was no difference between Harris and Trump.

Despite a "Dynacompuglobaltech" work lunch meeting sketch that goes a little long, director Caleb McEwen keeps the pace driving, building up to the absolutely hilarious first act finale, an ode to the church of Costco disco number sung with religious fervor by the entire cast, led by Anderson.

Remarkably, the second act is as strong as the first, though things definitely get weirder. Dunsieth, Anderson and Katy McEwen open this act as choral-speaking Android-esque Xanax-popping women, followed by Belin and Nolan in a minstrel-style "Salt and Pepper Show" covering topical political news like DEI and tariffs, at one point declaring, "We're just a couple of proud boys!" Anderson and Dunsieth have a less abstract, realistic scene together as a mother comedically admitting to her daughter through the metaphor of Matt Damon in The Martian that adults don't know what they're doing.

The entire cast comes together in a goofy penultimate sketch featuring Belin as Marvel's Captain America, Katy McEwen as Captain 'Merica, Dunsieth and Anderson as some Russian villains, and Nolan as the American Eagle. In the finale, Dunsieth admits to feeling guilty about the state of the world, noting that the wildfires in California broke out the day after the title of this production was announced, and exuberantly leads the cast in listing various other current events in the Billy Joel inspired, "We Maybe Started the Fire."

Ultimately, this production left me grateful to have a sketch comedy theatre company like the Brave New Workshop in the Twin Cities willing to satirize politics and our "Minnesota Nice" persona. While all the performances are strong, Katy McEwen's specificity and fire give a sharp and hilarious bite to her satire. Belin, Dunsieth, and Anderson are all confident, seasoned cast members. Newer Nolan is not featured much, but shines in his very strong physical comedy bits. I highly recommend The World Is Burning So I Made Smores to anyone feeling bogged down by current events in need of a laugh.

The World Is Burning So I Made Smores, presented by Brave New Workshop, runs through May 17, 2025, at the Dudley Riggs Theatre, 824 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN. For tickets and information, please call 612-339-7007 or visit hennepinarts.org.