Tag: Comedy

REVIEW: Captive Barbies

Phillip Wachowiak

I will be honest: the last Basement Arts performance on North Campus left me with a lukewarm feeling. When I sat down in the familiar theater seats in the Walgreen Drama Center, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Believe me when I tell you: GO SEE THIS PLAY.

captive barbiesThe advertisement is fairly representative of what you’re getting yourself into–it’s flamboyant, outrageous, and there is not hint of the opposite sex from start to finish. We begin with Lee, a gay prostitute who escapes from a cop (Larry) once he forces Larry to confront his closeted past and present. From there we watch a relationship between Mitchell and Darrell explode as a love triangle involving Larry is involved.

I won’t spoil anything, but the story gets juicy without being convoluted.

Captive Barbies is a black comedy. Make no mistake, this is indeed one of the darkest comedies you will encounter. The only similarity I can think of off the top of my head is Little Miss Sunshine, with the way it threatens death and suicide, juxtaposed with the pain of rejection.

Yet the play is simultaneously hilarious and genuine. I was pleasantly surprised–or shocked–to watch such well-developed characters. Although Mike (the Pimp) was the weakest portrayal, each of the men involved was relatable in some way.The play does a superb job of portraying each character to maximize the emotions the audience feels at the climax.

Even better, Captive Barbies is easily quotable. Whereas quoting 50 Shades of Grey is done as a joke, quotes from Captive Barbies feels more like a commentary on life. The phrase “Differing realities” becomes a synonym for “lies” and Lee’s delusional adoption of various degrees from distinguished universities is very Blue Jasmine-esque.

This is a fantastic play. Not only is the writing and directing on point, but the acting as well. If you get a chance to see this before spring break, I would highly recommend the trek up to North Campus.

 

 

REVIEW: ComCo Presents: Edward Schlissel-Hands

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ComCo’s show kicked off with a scripted mock trial of the most dangerous outlaw, Edward Schlissel-Hands, played by ComCo player, Sarah Sherman, who donned two oven mitts with printout pictures of UM President Mark Schlissel pasted on them. Each of the ComCo actors then took turns testifying to “the court” as to why Schlissel-Hands should be locked up. One great acting performance especially was done by Guy Madjar, who played a bartender who can identify any victim or criminal just from looking at a picture. Together, the ComCo actors started the night off with great silliness, bring laughter to the 450 person audience at Angell Hall’s Auditorium A, the largest and most hilarious fire-hazard known to Michigan.

While many of the best jokes are too dirty for this blog (and equally could not compare to seeing it live), ComCo not only excels in crude humor but also, in the art of setting up unfortunate scenarios that prove to be hilarious. In a game called “four square,” different scenes are assigned to players two at a time based on suggestions from the audience. One example was “Six Flags” which gave life to a story of a man and his son who are riding the most dangerous roller coaster that no one has ever survived before. Games like this one prove that the more absurd and silly, the more fun you can have.

My favorite game of the show is the finale: “I like my men like I like my ____,” which uses audience suggestions to fill in the blank and then explain in the tag line of the sentence. For example, “I like my men like I like my sandwich—covered in mayo.” Many responses used hilarious euphemisms in order to complete the sentence. Examples from last night included “I like my men like I like my hot sauce – of the Latin American variety” and “I like my men like I like my pencil sharpener – ….” I’ll let you imagine the rest…

Another crowd favorite was a segment called “Dating Game.” Imitating a show like the Bachelor, one player leaves the room, while the three “contestants” stay in the room and are given personalities from audience suggestions. Contestant 1 was a spatula, Contestant 2 was R. Kelly, and Contestant 3 had a fear of apostrophes. The Bachelor’s job was to try and guess what each of the Contestants were based on their answers to his questions. As tricky as it sounds, the Bachelor played by ComCo leader John Dennehy, guessed all of them correctly! Props goes to Kelsey, who played the apostrophe-phobe and entertained the audience with the line “I don’t like my men to be possessive.” Ahhh, such fun.

At the end of the show, it was revealed to us that some of the original founders of ComCo were in the audience. What an honor for them to see how their legacy has been carried on!! I recommend going to the next ComCo show on December 5, and every one after that!!! Free laughter, fun, and appreciation for those who can think up ridiculous material on the spot – a talent that most people can only dream of.

REVIEW: Second City at the Ark

Phillip Wachowiak

If you weren’t one of the many people that packed the Ark Friday night, hopefully it is because you bought a ticket to Saturday’s show. If not, you may still have a chance to steal a ticket, or at the very least sneak in, because this show is not to be missed.

The typical set-up for all Second City shows is as follows: an even number of people in gender-balanced pairs (in this case, 6 people split into three men and three women). For the next two hours, this little comedy troupe puts on micro-skits, macro-skits, and improvisational comedy (including music!) for the audience to enjoy.

Although the gender equality was refreshing, the lack of diversity to offset the white cast led to much of the comedy being geared towards white suburban-class folks. Since this is Ann Arbor, I guess we can’t complain. Still, besides the occasional religious joke, the comedy focused on topics like quality education, gluten intolerance, and politics. Nothing on police brutality was mentioned, nor immigration, or anything about the Middle East save one joke in bad taste. Were they simply being respectful, or simply unable to come up with jokes in good taste?

One joke that stuck with me (along these lines): What is gluten intolerance? Something that upper middle class people have.

Let us not forget that these people are professionals. They have their skits and their tunes and their improv down to an art. At several points a cast member would ask the audience for objects, locations, or simply random words, and the rest of the cast would create an entire story out of that small premise. Just thinking about doing that on stage would make any mere human crumble–these people were grizzled veterans of the field.

It is always refreshing to see people unafraid to make mistakes or attempt to sing when they cannot sing. As the audience, we laugh along with them not only because of an executed joke, but because we also support their work. One cast member pranced around because he was half human-half Gargoyle. Not only were his antics hilarious, his acting was spot-on. I’m sure that’s what any half-Gargoyle youth would act…

My sole critique of the performance was the reliance on Ohio State Jokes. After spending three years in Ann Arbor attending the University of Michigan, I get it, people do not like OSU. Making a joke about Ohio becomes cheap and a way to make everyone laugh when you have run out of fresh comedy–this is why The Second City’s OSU jokes seemed a little stale. They heard or read in the news about the U of M — OSU Big Ten Rivalry so they made no less than THREE jokes about it. Come on guys, I already hear those jokes at least five times a week.

But disregard the last paragraph as the ramblings of an elderly man. Instead, see The Second City and become a happier person.

The Second City

Preview: The Skeleton Twins

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What: The Skeleton Twins

Where: The Michigan Theater

When: Opens Friday 26 September

How Much: $8 for students and veterans, $10 general admission

 

Starring Kristen Wiig (SNL, Brides Maids), Bill Hader (SNL), Ty Burrell (Modern Family) and Luke Wilson (The Royal Tenenbaums, Legally Blonde).

The Skeleton Twins is about the reuniting of estranged twins Maggie (Wiig) and Milo (Hader) who are each struggling in their individual lives. Together they trace back to where things went so wrong for each of them and realize that repairing their relationship with one another could provide the solution to fixing everything.

1 hour, 33 minutes, rated R.

 

REVIEW: Hay Fever

csatter

In their delightfully funny and entertaining production, The School of Music, Theatre & Dance brings Noël Coward’s comedy Hay Fever, full of eccentric characters, witty dialogue, and intriguing plot, to life. Set in the English countryside during the 1920s, Hay Fever is centered around the Bliss family, Judith, David, Sorel, and Simon, a somewhat bizarre cast of characters who have a very theatrical lifestyle. The play takes place over the course of a weekend, when each member of the Bliss family has invited a romantic interest to stay at the house without telling any of the other family members. Unsurprisingly, numerous misunderstandings and hilariously awkward situations ensue.

One of the best features of the performance was the strength of the cast. Although the portrayals of the Bliss family were all wonderful, Liz Raynes’ portrayal of mother Judith, a retired actress longing for drama and a return to the stage was particularly great. The cohesiveness of the group and the ease with which they interacted with each other created a great family dynamic which let all of the members shine. Not be overlooked though, were the strong portrayals of the four houseguests, Richard, Sandy, Myra, and Jackie. Arguably just as eccentric as the Bliss family, the houseguests’ distinct characters highlighted the outrageousness of the Bliss family and added humor to all aspects of the play.

Although great separately, when the Bliss family and the houseguests came together, the result was spectacular. One such moment was during the second act when after a series of misunderstandings and accidental run-ins by Judith, half of the houseguests find themselves engaged to members of the family, while the other half are being held responsible for breaking up a marriage. As the houseguests look on in horror, Judith alternates from dramatically accusing everyone of hurting her to accepting the turn of events. Matching her theatricality, the rest of the family gets in on the fun and plays along. The highlight of the scene, however, is when, to the confusion of the guests, Judith and the children seamlessly break into a scene from one of Judith’s plays. As the audience roared with laughter and the houseguests cowered in the corner, the Bliss family took center stage and showed just how hilariously outrageous they could be.

Overall, Hay Fever, was a wonderfully entertaining production filled with great acting and lots of laughs. I highly recommend seeing it. Hay Fever runs through Sunday 2/23. Tickets can be purchased at the Michigan League Box Office.

PREVIEW: Hay Fever

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WHO: The Department of Theatre and Drama

WHAT: Hay Fever a comedy by Noël Coward

WHERE: Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre

WHEN: February 20-23

COST: $10 for students

Set in the English countryside, the play focuses on the eclectic Bliss Family. Unbeknownst to the others, each member of the family invites a romantic interest to spend the weekend. As things take a turn for the outlandish, the guests become caught in the middle and must decide if they are willing to stay. Described as a cross between high farce and a comedy of manners, Hay Fever is sure to be entertaining.