“Beautifully Told. This was an extremely genuine and personal story. Michael Venske told personal stories of his life about home, and being away from home. He told these stories beautifully. This show was extremely heartwarming. Some of the stories he told felt very personal for me as well. In addition to telling these stories, he asked audience members about our personal experiences although he commented that we didn’t need to say anything if we didn’t feel comfortable. It was a lovely show to end the night with. He presented himself as an open and genuine person with a warm heart.”

-Robert Rayfield

“Well done and poignant. This show was well done and entertaining. Many of the stories resonated with us. It was funny, touching, revealing and personal. My only suggestion would be to use additional props. The three props we remembered (more items than props) were very effective and I think another one or two might have added to the story without getting overwhelming. A souvenir or something physical from China?”

-Cindy Lutz

“Low key stories of memories from home in Minnesota. The setup was clear: Michael is moving boxes from his grandparents’ home. He uses the found objects from the boxes to reflect on his experiences both at home and while living in China. While some of the stories were heartwarming (the guard at the Chinese school), they could have used a stronger dramatic arc to keep our attention and help us focus on some of the bigger issues regarding ‘how we think about home.”

-Corrie Fiedler

“Storytelling done right. Venske’s connection to the material and heart for material equal storytelling magic. So much more than just a show, “Home” is an invitation for us all to search deeper and unconver connections in places where we otherwise may have missed them. Truly a must see for any fringe goer.”

-Athena Pelton