Under the direction of Kenny Laurie, comes together three half-hour comedy plays that tell the tales of transformation and rebirth. Come Again! is the story of a has-been 90s pop star, Chrishelle, who goes toe-to-toe with her much younger industry replacement, Selina, on the set of an once-popular radio show hosted by Zack McMacken; a character that can only be described as Nick Kroll’s ‘Lola’ meets Perez Hilton (very niche, as it were). HardWall is the story of failing talk show host Chris Wall’s final interview of three political guests: former Swedish prime minister, Bjorn Bjornson, U.S. politician, Bethany Waters, and U.S. government official, Tyler Harding. Chris gives a last-ditch effort to save his show or go out with a bang. Lastly, The Invention of Acting takes the audience through a dramatized version of how David Garrick revolutionized theatre performance from its much less dynamic predecessor, oration, to what we recognize now as the art of acting.
Come Again!, HardWall, and The Invention of Acting, are stand-alone pieces that Laurie expertly connects with, as he describes, “English ten-minute” intermissions and witty introductions of each piece. Though the three pieces can work individually, the fact that Laurie seamlessly connects the seemingly unrelated plays shows a level of thinking on his part that goes far deeper than the “easy-going comedy night” vibe that many audience members may initially seek. This appreciation for art and how themes can connect, regardless of time period and setting, does not go unnoticed. The only thing left for Laurie to do is to give the three plays one cohesive name to operate under, as 3 Short Original Comedy Plays in 1 Night! doesn’t quite roll off the tongue.
Michelle Reinert gives a standout performance as Chrishelle (Come Again!), America’s Bible-toting sweetheart, who has a secret potty mouth and an affinity for cigarettes. Her juxtaposition to bad girl newcomer, Selina (portrayed by Serenay Demir) – even down to their all-white and all-black outfits, respectively – leaves the audience craving her next witty comeback. Reinert impeccably plays a cringey, Jesus-loving hypocrite, and yet still garners sympathy and support from the audience. Additionally, Chris Wall as himself in HardWall is a complete natural and clear crowd favorite. Wall’s interview with Luke Webb’s Bjorn Bjornson is the absolute winner and highlight of the evening. Wall’s energy is infectious and his casual oblivion to his guests’ criticisms is A1. HardWall, the indubitable frontrunner of the three shows, is better suited as the show closer. It rarely lags, garners the most laughs from the audience, and has quick zingers that are understood by a range of viewers, from the casual news headline-reader to the international studies graduate student. Last, but certainly not least, it would be remiss to skip over Kenny Laurie’s performance as Quinn in The Invention of Acting. The role, normally played by Nathan Bassett, is done an absolute service. Laurie brings his same vibrancy as an emcee to portray Quinn.
While the cleverly placed lighting changes in the first two pieces denote when the radio and talk shows are on-air, this is Istanbul, and blackouts are bound to happen. Surprisingly enough, the occasional blackout does not distract from the buzzing atmosphere and, if anything, is accepted as an uncredited actor. Laurie’s bare set and minimal usage of props allows for the audience’s attention to be completely focused on the actors and their dialogues. Anything extra would take away from the light-hearted ensemble piece he is helming. In this regard, Laurie brilliantly understands and lives by the “less is more” school of thought for performance art.
All in all, attending 3 Short Original Comedy Plays in 1 Night! is a great way to start a casual weekend night out if you love theatre, history, or just making fun of American stereotypes. As an unofficial company and cast member, the audience is expected to fully enjoy themselves and share their full range of emotions throughout the show. It is theatre, after all. Catch the performances 11 and 12 February 2022 at 19:30. For tickets, comment on the event page, email kennyrblaurie@gmail.com, or show up in person.
