Playwright Kristine Malm Holmgren portrays her mother, a Swedish immigrant raised in South St. Paul. There's lots of homespun hokum from this woman who told fortunes (and does so for a couple of audience members). Holmgren, though, is best when Bernice is telling the odd, sad stories of real people from her neighborhood – the woman who gardened in the nude, the bar companion who ruled the slot machine, a tough boy who threw cats and a beautifully poignant small girl who had a rough go of things. The meanness of life and those who live it seems central to Holmgren's conceit and she has her charm. (8:30 p.m. Fri., 2:30 p.m. Sun.; Playwright's Center, 2301 E. Franklin Av., Mpls.)
graydon royce
