Review of Ragnarok Live: The Final Feast

As our first review I was honored to get front row seats to Ragnarok. This theatrical performance included a table spread that very much felt in theme. Where else would you find eight roasted chickens, paired beautifully with chili. Along with the food came the entertainment of many character actors throughout the event. Live music was provided by viking-period commoners, with one who was able to play the recorder nasally. Most were just in period clothing, with our star performer Andhrímnir(played by Sean McCarthy) in character the entire time. The dedication to the role makes you wonder if he’s a method actor.

Ragnarok Live Frankensock

After lighting the candles, and getting the ceremonial fire ready, the show was ready to begin. This long 3h build-up did feel long, and some guests were getting restless. I wouldn’t have minded to see a little direction in the beginning. When Alex Smith one of the producers started herding everyone towards the stage we had to match runes with the chair. It was an interesting game of musical chairs, which led to me not finding my chair as another guest had taken it, but was very kind to let me sit in the front row.

Ragnarok definitely set a high bar for being the first production we’ve reviewed here on VermontBlogger.com. Alex narrates the opening through a beautifully articulated shadow puppet show. The audio production here left me excited to see where’d the performance would go. The play is about Andhrímnir trying to find and prepare, and cook Odin potato for the final feast. A very typical hero’s journey story, but taking you some twists, while also playing up the clichés in a satirical fashion. Our hero here must collect sour cream, bacon, and chives with each presenting their own specific challenge to conquer.

This now leads me into the practical effects employed here, and huge props(see what I did there) to the stage manager Alex. The sour cream had to come from the sourest of dragons, the bacon from Sæhrímnir, and chives from a ghost. All along Andhrímnir’s voyage he begins to learn more about himself, and Odin potato. The magical spark of them both bonding became great foreshadowing of the final feast’s final ingredient.

After everything’s harvested, and we now near the end of his journey where our hero realizes all he needed was friendship. The whole thing culminated in a spectacular finish with Andhrímnir breaking into song and dance. That unexpected closing to the whole performance wasn’t just felt by me, but the whole audience. The cheers, laughter and enjoyment was felt by everyone in attendance! The show rightfully deserved the standing ovation it received, and I look forward to attending more theatrical performances by this company.

Taking the whole experience into account, and my only qualm being how unclear the actual start time was, I’d love to give Ragnarok Live: The Final Feast a score of 4.5/5.