Since opening its doors in November 2008, Ferndale's Go Comedy! Improv Theater has provided a home for Southeast Michigan's ever-expanding improv community, and in the process, has earned raves from attendees and the media alike. Not content to just make stuff up five nights a week, however, Go's founders began experimenting last year with original scripted comedies on Thursdays nights. And now, Thursdays are totally devoted to scripted comedies – with a little dash of improv, of course – which provides veteran and up-and-coming creators plenty of opportunities to develop and sharpen their skills.
It's a crapshoot, of course, as the quality might vary from show to show and from month to month. But that's the beauty of Thursday Nights at Go Comedy!:
It's a valuable tool for the creative artists, and a fun and enlightening evening for the audience (and critics) as we watch the talented writers and performers grow with every new project they present on the Go Comedy! stage.
This month, the Thursday schedule features two new scripted comedies and one carry-over from April, plus a couple rounds of improv. And while the ticket price might be cheap, the laughs are anything but!
Japanese Cowboy
If nothing else, Sean May has guts.
Not many people would publicly display their family photo album – including the always-embarrassing school pictures – and tell the stories relatives love to relive at family gatherings. But that's what Sean does in his witty, yet touching family memoir, "Japanese Cowboy."
Using a mix of stand-up comedy and storytelling, Sean starts (as Julie Andrews might sing) "at the very beginning." His Caucasian father was a soldier stationed in Japan following the Korean War, and his Japanese mother was his barber. The two fell in love, married, moved to East Detroit (now Eastpointe) and raised two daughters. In 1977, a surprise package arrived in the form of baby Sean, and since his sisters were grown, Sean was pretty much raised as an only child.
And that's where the fun begins. Photos projected onto a screen reveal the youngster's life – from Halloween cross-dressing to "the Huggies incident" (from which he learns an important life lesson), and from matched cowboy outfits to poufy hair styles.
It's gentle fun Sean pokes at himself and his multicultural family. Yet he touches upon their tender and heart-wrenching moments as well.
The script is perfect – as is the cute, uncredited music video that intersperses scenes of the adult Sean roller skating through downtown Ferndale with stock footage of Japanese culture's fascination with the American cowboy.
Sean's delivery is warm, inviting and generally spot on, although there were a few brief moments on opening night when it seemed he was struggling through a memorized script rather than having a conversation with the audience. That, I'm sure, will improve as he becomes more comfortable alone on stage sharing his life story and insights with a room full of appreciative strangers.
Bro. Dude. Bro.
Having spent many an evening with Metro Detroit's improv community over the past several years, it's been quite interesting to watch as new faces debut, move up the food chain and – sometimes – become major, breakout creators.
One such improviser is Garrett Fuller, who I've thoroughly enjoyed in pretty much every show I've seen him in – going so far as to nominate him for a 2008 Wilde Award for his performance in "Barnhart" at The Second City Detroit. He often plays a variation of the lovable, but dimwitted jock, and it's a character he's pretty much perfected.
But with "Bro. Dude. Bro.," he's kicks it up a notch – not only as an actor, but also as the one-act comedy's writer.
"Bro. Dude. Bro." tells the story of a wild, trash-talkin' former high school party-boy who hasn't changed at all since his graduation. For Brandon "Beezy" DeMichael (Fuller) that means spending the day at the gym, hitting all his favorite bars and dance clubs at night, brawling at the least provocation, obnoxiously attempting to pick up every hot dish he encounters and downing as much alcohol as he possible can.
And still living at home and driving his mother's car.
The return home of his lifelong "bro," Dave "Diesel" Milan (Jamen Spitzer), proves challenging, however. Just released from a Florida jail after serving time for a spring break-related offense, the even-tougher Diesel stuns him with an announcement: He's now a dad, and he wants to make a better life for himself and his daughter.
That's easier said than done, of course. Beezy has no plans to grow up any time soon, nor does he wish that fate for his bro.
Fuller's script is packed with a relatable storyline and wonderful character bits that offer the two actors a colorful adult playground to explore – which they do with gleeful abandon. As such, the potentially unlikeable duo are instead transformed into living, breathing, child-like men who haven't launched yet as fully functional adults – and are afraid to do so until circumstances dictate otherwise.
Fuller and Spitzer – who also does his finest work to date here – are mesmerizing in their performances, helped by the insightful direction of Bryan Lark. A palpable energy can be felt throughout the show, the result of which is an electrifying and thoroughly enjoyable experience, courtesy of two of Go Comedy!'s brightest stars.
Wicked Tales of Horror & Regret
April's holdover is a spoof of such classic TV shows as "Twilight Zone" and "Outer Limits," "Wicked Tales of Horror & Regret." Hosted by Ian Specter, the three O. Henry-like tales cover such territory as an archeologist on a career-making search for a mummy, ghost pirates and a trip back in time that changes history (and humanity's genetic makeup).
The stories are all cute, but each lacks the powerful or unexpected punch or zinger one expects from such work.
The performances, however, are all top notch. Red-wigged Ian Young is especially delightful as the mummy-napped girlfriend of the archeologist, played with the perfect amount of gusto and bravado by Lorenzo Toia. Bandage-wrapped Michael Hovitch as the Mummy and Michael Wilson as Cliff add to the first scene's mirthful mayhem.
And in subsequent stories, the ensemble – including director Tim Kay – couldn't be better!
Improv
Two segments of improv round out the night.
The first, which follows "Japanese Cowboy," is Stevie Wonderbra, an all-female improv troupe. And the night closes with "Flight 1977" starring – at least on May 6 – Matt Naas, Bryan Lark and Sean May on an improvised flight to a destination chosen by the audience.
Technical assistance throughout the evening is provided by Peter Jacokes, who I believe also provides the voice of the airplane pilot during "Flight 1977."
REVIEW:
'Thursdays at Go Comedy!'
Go Comedy! Improv Theater, 261 E. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale. Every Thursday beginning at 8 p.m. $10 for the evening. 248-327-0575. http://www.gocomedy.net
