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Boy bands get spoofed at Go Comedy!

"Menllennium" stars Michael Caldwell, Tommy Simon, Clint Lohman and Andrew Seiler. Photo: Heather Sejnowski

Back in the early 1990s, four jocks singing in the shower after a football game were thrust into the limelight as the boy band Menllenium. Now, in 2011, a documentary reveals the true backstage story that tore the once-popular group apart. But on the night of the group's first-ever reunion concert, will the flames that snuffed out their career reignite before the performance begins?
The answer, of course, won't be found in this review. But since "Menllenium" is an original Thursday night spoof at Ferndale's Go Comedy! Improv Theater, you can pretty much assume there will be plenty of laughs before that fateful resolution is revealed. The REAL question, though, is this: Will this occasionally crude production make you laugh or not? The answer, I suspect, will likely depend on a combination of things – mostly your age and your sense of humor.
Discovered by their gym teacher (and Menudo's original manager), Kevin, JD, Jason and Marcus embark on a whirlwind tour that takes the number one boy band all around the world. But interpersonal conflicts and run-ins with the law – plus suspicion of arson – soon take their toll.
Originally created as a Second City Level 5 class show under the direction of Nancy Hayden Edwards, "Menllenium" is a nicely conceived comedy written by cast members Ryan Parmenter (Sarge), Andrew Seiler (Kevin) and Tommy Simon (Marcus) with assistance from Micah Caldwell (Jayson) and Clint Lohman (JD) under the watchful eye of director Tommy LeRoy. The story unfolds through a combination of well-executed documentary-style video interviews and live flashbacks, with a conclusion that takes place in the present. And scattered throughout are original tunes by the cast, Ryan Garnes and Ben Mullins.
It's those tunes, though, that some may find tasteless. With lyrics like "golden shower of love" and "my penis talks to me every day," pretty much all the songs revolve around male genitalia – which after a while, gets old. And not very typical of boy bands whatsoever.
Which may have been the point – although, to be honest, I'm not sure if the so-so singing talent and dance skills were ALSO part of the joke. (It's tough to know for sure, since most improvisers who sing and dance in original comedies lack serious talent in those two departments.)
But as you might expect, the opening night performance was at its best when the actors were onstage creating their characters and working off one another.
For me, though – a cranky guy in his mid 50s – "Menllenium" was a decent enough hour with a few hardy laughs, an interesting premise and some excellent technical work. The mostly 20-to-30-something crowd, however – which, I suspect, was likely filled with friends and family members – howled throughout much of the performance. So be forewarned.
Now if only that closing song would get out of my head…

REVIEW:
'Menllenium'
Go Comedy! Improv Theater, 261 E. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale. 9 p.m. Thursdays through March 31. $10. 248-327-0575. http://www.gocomedy.net

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