A Hug from the Universe: A Review of Ben’s Viking Trip

​Ben’s Viking Trip is a surreal and soul-stirring one-act musical that blends humor, heart, and hallucinogens. Starring the playwright himself, this heartfelt and hilarious journey follows a struggling artist who, during a mushroom trip, comes face to face with a Viking ghost from his ancestral line. What unfolds is a cathartic exploration of grief, creativity, and the strange ways we heal

I’ve been following Ben Boquist’s work since 2017 when I saw "Songs of the Fall" and became an immediate fan. His music has a way of cracking something open in you—something soft, something searching. Since then, I’ve had the joy of watching him grow, not just as an artist but as a friend I deeply admire. With Ben’s Viking Trip, he returns to the Hollywood Fringe with his most personal and emotionally resonant piece yet. It’s cathartic, surreal, hilarious, and precisely the kind of theatre that reminds you why this art form matters.

The entire story takes place in Ben’s shared home in Pasadena. That grounded, familiar setting allows the surreal and psychedelic elements to shine even brighter. Feeling untethered and creatively blocked, Ben takes a bar of mushroom chocolate from his laid-back roommate. Instead of peace, he finds himself face-to-face with a Viking ancestor named Sven. This spectral presence, tangled in his DNA, is angry, confused, and determined to be heard. What begins as an absurd trip becomes an emotional reckoning. The story touches on grief, masculinity, ancestral trauma, and the voices we inherit but never ask for.

Ben plays himself with quiet charisma and remarkable openness. His songwriting is sharp and emotionally charged, filled with moments that catch you off guard. You’ll laugh at one lyric and feel your breath catch on the next. That might be Ben’s superpower—his ability to craft poppy, charming earworms that stay with you. These songs settle in your head and your heart, and you’ll be humming them long after you leave the theatre. The immersive experience is enriched by live piano on stage, performed by musical director Ben Barahona Ginsberg. His playing gives the performance a raw, intimate texture that keeps the emotional current flowing. Director Karissa McKinney guides the production with clarity and care.

Darin McKenna brings depth and fire to Sven, making the Viking ghost more than a punchline. His emotional arc is one of the show’s most surprising turns. Andrew Abaria brings warmth to the roommate role, and Adair Tishler shines as Phoebe, the cat. Her puppet work is joyful and precise, and her tap number brought the house down. Special mention goes to Anthony Gaskins as the YouTube guy. His videos, projected throughout the performance, offer humorous and thoughtful insight into Ben’s spiritual spiral. They add levity, context, and just the right amount of momentum to keep things moving.

Ben’s Viking Trip is a tender eruption of humor, heartbreak, and healing, woven into one delightful journey. Equal parts soul search and serotonin boost, it’s the kind of show that leaves you feeling lighter and more alive. Deeply personal yet wholly relatable, it speaks to anyone who has ever battled doubt, wrestled with intrusive thoughts, or tried to make peace with where they come from.

This is why art matters. In a world that often feels uncertain, and where creativity can feel out of reach, Ben’s Viking Trip shines like a candle in the dark. It reminds us of what is good, kind, and still possible. For fans of musical theatre, it is a must-see. And for artists feeling stuck or uncertain, it offers a quiet invitation to look inward. With a little help from Mother Nature and the universe, perhaps we can all find the grace to move forward.

Ben’s Viking Trip is one trip that is definitely worth taking.

Location: ACTORS COMPANY (LET LIVE THEATER)
916 N.Formosa Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Tickets & Waitlist: Available via Hollywood Fringe

Featuring:
Ben Boquist as Ben
Darin McKenna as Sven
Adair Tishler as Phoebe the Cat
Andrew Abaria as the Roommate
Anthony Gaskins as The YouTube Guy

Production Team:
Karissa McKinney – Director
Ben Boquist – Writer / Composer / Performer
Ben Barahona Ginsberg – Music Director / Pianist
Tricia Aurand – Dramaturg