Could Be Worse

Look, Andrew Erskine Wheeler is an unbelievably skilled actor. His command of stage and character is extraordinary here; if you go to “In The Garden of American Heroes,” go for the masterclass in solo performance.

But his script suffocates itself.

Wheeler plays 19th-century general George Custer having a raving hourlong crash-out, hallucinating (and disrobing) while recapping his life and tarnished legacy. The show’s smart, dense allusions and allegories need breathing room they’re never given amid digressive in-character rants and hackneyed snipes at Gen Z and “naked Woodstock hippies.” Meanwhile, broader themes never quite coalesce, nor does Wheeler satisfyingly justify why Custer is worth revisiting in the first place.

Still trying to decide what to see? Check out all the Pioneer Press 2025 Fringe reviews, with each show rated on a scale of Must See, Worth Considering, Could Be Worse or You Can Skip It.

The Minnesota Fringe Festival is presenting nearly 100 hourlong stage acts from July 31 through Aug. 10 around Minneapolis. Visit MinnesotaFringe.org for ticket and show information.

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