There are two one-man shows in town, both are funny and deadly serious at the same time. I’M NOT A COMEDIAN; I’M LENNY BRUCE is in town for a one-weekend, three-show run at the Jewish Repertory Theatre. EVERY BRILLIANT THING is at Shea’s Smith Theatre through March 19. Let’s start with the one that’s closing soon.
THE BASICS: I’M NOT A COMEDIAN… I’M LENNY BRUCE, a play written by and starring Ronnie Marmo, directed by Joe Mantegna, and presented by Jewish Repertory Theatre, three shows only, Saturday March 11 at 2 and 7, closing Sunday, March 12 at 3 at 2640 N Forest Rd, Getzville, NY 14068. (716) 688-4033 jccbuffalo.org/jewish-repertory-theatre/
THUMBNAIL SKETCH: I’M NOT A COMEDIAN…I’M LENNY BRUCE chronicles the life and death (October 13, 1925 – August 3, 1966) of one of our most controversial comedians – Lenny Bruce. His use of intensely personal stories (instead of invented ones), his sharp social commentary exposing hypocrisy, and his original, freestyle comedy paved the way for generations of comics coming afterward, from Steven Colbert and Sarah Silverman to Kevin Hart and Dave Chapelle. As the play progresses we see his unwavering commitment to free speech leading to numerous obscenity charges and arrests. He died of an accidental overdose in 1966.
Note: This play discusses sex, includes strong language, and is intended for mature audiences. Anyone under 17 will not be allowed entry to the event.
Runtime: 90 minutes without intermission.
THE PLAYERS, THE PLAY, AND THE PRODUCTION: The entire production, which has been performed nationally, is fine-tuned. The music selected by Wendy Marmo, the set by Danny Cistone using old-fashioned garland curtains reminiscent of night clubs, along with the classic 1950s microphone, and the lighting by Matt Richter all make Marmo’s recreation of Lenny Bruce very believable.
Right away you know that this is a no-holds-barred production when, as the play begins, Marmo, as Lenny Bruce, is sitting naked on the toilet explaining that this is how he was found after his overdose of heroin.
But, in fairly short order, he’s dressed, in a gray suit, white dress shirt, and skinny black tie, which was pretty much the uniform for all stand-up comics in the 50s and 60s, and we are off.
He tells us that he was born Leonard Alfred Schneider; even before his parents divorced, his father was somewhat distant growing up, but the boy was very much attached to his mother, who was a dancer and entertainer with the stage name Sally Marr. His first gig was as an emergency fill-in emcee for a show his mother was in. Needing a stage name, he turned Leonard into Lenny and flipped his mother’s stage name “Sally Marr” to become a last name “Marsalle” (say “Marr-Sally”). Responding to a heckler, he got his first laugh, and that was the start of it all.
In 1951, Bruce met Honey Harlow, a stripper, and it was love at first sight. We hear a lot about Honey during the show and it all belies the “tough-guy sarcasm” that we usually associate with Bruce.
It’s a bitter-sweet portrait of a famous performer. There is some mild voluntary audience participation around a particular ten-letter word and the audience loved it all with a quite spontaneous standing ovation.
EVERY BRILLIANT THING, a play by Duncan MacMillan with Jonny Donahoe, presented by Second Generation Theatre (SGT), directed By Charmagne Chi, starring Kevin Craig, March 3 – 19, Fridays at 7:30, Saturdays at 8:00, Sundays at 2:00 at Shea’s Smith Theatre 654 Main Street, Buffalo NY 14202 716-847-1410 sheas.org/smith-theatre
Kevin Craig – Image: @nickelcityheadshots
THUMBNAIL SKETCH: The Narrator takes the audience through his life which started to go downhill at age 7 when his clinically depressed mother first attempted suicide. In reaction, partly to cheer her up and partly as a coping mechanism, he started an ongoing list of “every brilliant thing” worth living for, beginning with “Number 1 – Ice Cream.” As the play continues, the list grows and grows and the audience becomes a key player! (Relax, everyone is pre-recruited before the show begins.) The publicity juxtaposes the word “hilarious” with “heartbreaking” as well as “heart-wrenching” and goes on to say that “This 70-minute piece explores the resilience of the human spirit, the importance of human connection, and the ability to find joy in the everyday.”
For a preview of the show by Buffalo Rising’s Daniel Lendzian, please click here.
A NOTE FROM CRISIS SERVICES: “Although the play balances the struggles of life while celebrating all that is “truly brilliant” in living each day, EVERY BRILLINAT THING contains descriptions of depression, self-harm, and suicide. Crisis Services recommends only audience members 14+ attend and reminds audiences to attend this program with their personal experiences in mind. As always, if you or somebody you know is struggling, call 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.”
Runtime: 70 minutes without intermission
THE PLAYERS, THE PLAY, AND THE PRODUCTION: You get a brilliant (sorry, but it was right there) performance from one of Buffalo’s funniest, and most embraceable actors, Kevin Craig, who has been away from us for too long while getting his Master’s Degree out of state. Well, he’s back and it was worth the wait. So for 70 minutes, you can just relax knowing that you’re in the hands of a master, who was directed by another Buffalo phenom, actress, singer, and comedienne Charmagne Chi.
In her Director’s Note, she has her own list of brilliant things, including “1. Audiences who brave Buffalo winters to support the arts. 2. Being warm and cozy in the theatre when it’s freezing outside. 3. Audiences who are up for anything and just go with it.” There are more and when you go you’ll be given a QR code for the virtual program. There you’ll find that the Set/Light/Sound Designer for this ad-hoc theater in the round is Chris Cavanagh (whose set was brilliant for the 72-minute-long CONSTELLATIONS presented by SGT last year and he hasn’t lost a step). He has a knack for focusing your attention where it belongs. Kelly Copps, one of the founders of SGT, provided the props.
As to the publicity, I’ll go with hilarious. As to the “heartbreaking” and “heart-wrenching,” I guess that’s up to individual reaction and is probably why Crisis Services “reminds audiences to attend this program with their personal experiences in mind.” All of which is to say that, for me, this was not upsetting and was as emotional as any good night at the theater should be, so don’t be put off.
*HERD OF BUFFALO (Notes on the Rating System)
ONE BUFFALO: This means trouble. A dreadful play, a highly flawed production, or both. Unless there is some really compelling reason for you to attend (i.e. you are the parent of someone who is in it), give this show a wide berth.
TWO BUFFALOS: Passable, but no great shakes. Either the production is pretty far off base, or the play itself is problematic. Unless you are the sort of person who’s happy just going to the theater, you might look around for something else.
THREE BUFFALOS: I still have my issues, but this is a pretty darn good night at the theater. If you don’t go in with huge expectations, you will probably be pleased.
FOUR BUFFALOS: Both the production and the play are of high caliber. If the genre/content are up your alley, I would make a real effort to attend.
FIVE BUFFALOS: Truly superb–a rare rating. Comedies that leave you weak with laughter, dramas that really touch the heart. Provided that this is the kind of show you like, you’d be a fool to miss it!
The post Two one-man shows in town, “LENNY BRUCE” at JRT through 3/12, EVERY BRILLIANT THING at Shea’s Smith to 3/19. appeared first on Buffalo Rising.