Fringe Comedy Just Short of Divine.
Rating: 3
Jesus, Shakespeare, and Lincoln Walk into a Bar
KC Fringe Festival
"A drunk staggers out of a bar and runs right into two priests. He says, "I'm Jesus Christ." The first priest says, "No, son, you're not." So the drunk says it to the second priest. The second priest says, "No, son, you're not." The drunk says, "Look, I can prove it." He walks back into the bar with the two priests. The bartender takes one look at the drunk and exclaims, "Jesus Christ, you're here again?"
The set-up for a good play is as important as the set-up for a good joke. Young lovers from feuding families, a flying boy who never grows old, a throat cutting barber or an African-American family struggling in 1950s Chicago are all great starts for plays. Need a good set-up for a joke? How about three of the most written about men in history walking into a bar? Excellent!
What happens when "Jesus, Shakespeare, and Lincoln Walk into a Bar…" currently playing at the Unicorn Theatre as part of this year's Fringe Festival? It seems the "one who must not be named"—uh, I mean the Lamb of God—is feeling a little burnt out and after just over two centuries of service is contemplating retirement. Without giving too much away the bar Baby Jesus in the Manger visits is also a favorite of William Shakespeare and Abe Lincoln in whom the Savior is able to confide his woes. Oh, and there's Karaoke. Stop me if you've heard this one before.
With a title like this one the show could easily have fallen into a litany of bad religious jokes, puns and awkward slapstick, but it does not. The comedy is well written and witty and even makes careful use of the ever popular fart joke. Touching on many topics including an ineffective government and the decline of the US (a popular theme in this year's Fringe) the show keeps from getting too preachy which is not easy. Kristopher Owens the multiple slash writer/director/ actor can be proud of the script he has written. It is funny and a perfect addition to a Fringe festival.
"A cowboy walks into a bar wearing only paper for clothing, he gets arrested for rustling."
The other Giants of Theatre (their collective producing name) include Carlos Portillo, Eric Brockett, Tony Thongphay and I am sure they are all nice funny guys and they definitely have their moments. However, their performance "style" if that can be applied here needs some refinement. The script does not give them strong characters to play only caricatures, but their delivery is wooden and often flat. There are a few basic acting things that would help these guys immensely: enunciate, project and energy. It is important to give us more than the punch lines gentlemen. I like to think that they will take the opportunity to view the other excellent productions going on at the Unicorn this week like "Caldwell's Bomb" and "Heaven So Far". These young men can learn a lot about the art of acting and commitment to the moment from watching either of these offerings. (Nobody commits to a bit like De De DeVille boys!)
Only one small burp from Giants of Theatre "tech guy" Julian Harris with a sound cue tape not run forward long enough is easily forgotten. I'm not sure he is to blame for the completely linear set, but somebody needs to take responsibility. The bar, seats and table are set in one line across the stage. Maybe this comes from previous shows done in cramped, tiny theatres? In any case some spreading out and use of all of the dimensions of the stage would allow for some more interesting blocking and avoid the awkward wandering that is occurring now.
There is still time for you to find out more about this show. Playing Tue 7/26 @ 6:30 pm and Fri 7/29 @ 11:30 pm at the Unicorn Theatre.
Okay, one last groaner:
An Irishman walks out of a bar. Hey, it COULD happen!
thanks!
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