This weekend my wife and I went to see our friend Phil Callen perform in the two act play Pen at the Guthrie’s Dowling Studio in Minneapolis. Phil was his usual great self, or as Star Tribune reviewer Rohan Preston called him, “a smooth and smarmy cad.”

The review in the paper didn’t really prepare us for what we actually experienced. I was expecting a grim and dark storyline, but found myself smiling through most of the show. One big twist I totally wasn’t expecting too (I won’t spoil it here).

The play runs though November 25–go and see Phil before he returns to New York. Ticket info here. Prices are very reasonable and seats are general admission, so get there early (doors opened 30 minutes before show time on Saturday).

I’m really becoming attached to the new building. The 180-seat Dowling Studio space is very special (not to mention hard to find). Here’s a nice local photo site I found that has some shots of the exterior (including the cool yellow overhanging block with the glass floor).

After the play, we stopped at the Spoonriver restaurant located across the street from the Guthrie. Started by the same people behind Cafe Brenda, the Spoonriver space is small and narrow and focuses on locally produced, organic ingredients. We ordered off of the after-theater bar menu and enjoyed the following:

• Caesar Salad – with sliced Free Range Chicken Breast
• Quesadilla – Local Free Range Smoked Chicken, Greek Keseri Cheese, Mango – Cranberry Coulis

Very fun to see the picture of Ian McKellen in the front foyer, too.