That's Kevin Hansen getting stage kudos!

I'm giving away my lowbrow orientation here by immediately thinking of Milton Berle. Kevin Hansen may have little familiarity with the irreverent pioneering TV icon. But if he does, congratulations.
Kevin's name is prominent on the front page of the Variety section of today's Star Tribune. He like the late "Uncle Miltie" has no inhibition about crossing the gender line to make a dramatic impression.
What is it that makes Kevin the center of attention here? I was informed this afternoon that Kevin once had a very lively presence on the U of M-Morris campus. I have to believe that I crossed paths with him at least once, but I can't immediately place him. It probably doesn't help that he has such a common name.
I'm very happy to see that this UMM graduate contributes to Twin Cities theatre in a dynamic way. The Star Tribune headline reads "Putting the man in Mame," and in the subhead we learn of the "Uncle Miltie" parallel (if not inspiration), as "Kevin Hansen dons the wig again for a turn as the iconic dame in Minneapolis Musical Theatre's (MMT) production."
My tipster informed me that Kevin came to UMM from a quite small town in South Dakota. Kevin immediately impressed peers and professors here with an air that seemed beyond his background, not that a diligent young person can't find the tools to become refined anywhere (especially today in the age of the communications revolution).
I'm told Kevin was a 1980s mainstay in UMM theatre, long before all the tech inroads gained traction. How could young people even get by then? My, they did just fine.
Perhaps the young Hansen was a bookworm. (Is that becoming an antiquated term?) Perhaps library resources filled the bill as he groomed his credentials for maturing at our local campus. He went on to enrich theatre and campus life here in a way that my source says ought to be easily remembered.
And if his name were to be more distinctive than "Kevin Hansen," I might perk up and say, "oh, yes, I remember." Because I frequently took play rehearsal photos at UMM's HFA through the years. There are many memorable characters, not to mention the "Chairman Mao" warm-up routine that I was warned several times might not be suitable for reporting in the community media.
Today Kevin is a pillar with the Minneapolis Musical Theatre. The troupe is polishing the classic "Mame" for performances at the Illusion Theater. Hansen has refined the Uncle Miltie approach of donning women's clothes, as "Mame" represents his third foray into that cross-gender challenge.
MMT is a "small troupe that specializes in cheeky, irreverent staging of musicals," according to the Star Tribune article by Graydon Royce. Kevin, whose looks as a faux woman make him superior to some former dates Royce can recall, once played Miss Bible Belt - a character in "Pageant." On the heels of that success, Kevin reprised the drag look for the role of Albin in "La Cage Aux Folles."
Milton Berle sought nothing but laughs in his drag escapades. But for "Mame," the portrayal takes on a serious sheen, more than Kevin's previous drag roles. Kevin says the MMT is approaching "Mame" as "an honest character" and not a caricature. But writer Royce feels that's a little tough to pull off.
"Mame" is the heroine in a mid-1950s novel and she immerses herself in the Bohemian life. The role has a long background of noted artists taking a shot at it. First was Rosalind Russell in the late 1950s. The best was yet to come, thanks to the infusion of the musical talents of Jerry Herman. Herman crafted the very familiar musical version that put Angela Lansbury in the spotlight at a time when her career needed a boost.
This 1966 version took off like a rocket and lasted for over 1500 performances. Alas the road hasn't been without a pothole, as in 1974 there was a version with Lucille Ball that added nothing new to the interpretation.
Looking back, the Lansbury interpretation with the attitude it projected seemed to provide the healthiest inspiration and platform for Hansen's new portrayal.
Lansbury's "Mame," according to Royce, "exuded outrageous optimism and an avid lust for adventure."
MMT artistic director Steven Meerdink likes the "elan" projected by the images Lansbury left behind, and Hansen will strive to re-kindle that intangible appeal in his well-schooled way, employing tools and perspectives instilled in him at UMM way back in those 1980s.
Meerdink is avoiding the angle of mining humor from the sheer novelty of "man playing woman." That would be too much Berle-like (Berle-esque?) But Meerdink isn't shying away from an outrageous sort of imagery either.
You get the impression that Hansen is the straw the stirs the drink with this project. He left such a strong impression from "La Cage" that his current flourishes onstage are inviting great anticipation. His sheer talent is just as important as the script.
Hansen himself knows the role isn't a simple cake-walk and he has to be careful lest it become simply camp (or drag camp).
"It's up to him as an actor," Royce wrote.
Surely he has the tools because of the enrichment gained at UMM and beyond.
Hansen was quoted saying "this is about the character of Mame."
Royce added "and himself."
-Brian Williams - morris mn Minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com