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Royally Good Comedy
by Ashley Harrell
Be All That You Can Buy reviewed October 29, 2004
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The five-actor fist of improv/sketch comedy troupe, The Royal We, delivers an eye-purpling punch to the face of American materialism with their latest sketch comedy revue, Be All That You Can Buy. Intended as an exploration of “the consumer society to end all consumer societies, where each of us in a Market of One,” the show successfully assails everything from hypocrite hipsters to product preoccupation, leaving no sham un-satirized.
Although The We seems to pride itself on biting political statements and social commentary, the most audience-appreciated skits tended to involve sex. Standout actor, Jerry Miller, nailed it as a product-obsessed, one-night-stand reject, relentlessly clinging to Becca Greene’s embarrassed and dismissive character. Unfamiliar with morning-after etiquette, he pestered her about her favorite sodas and demanded to know why, if there was to be nothing more, she let him stick his finger up her butt. (Not all the funnies are quite so vulgar.)
The night's most innovative sketch provided a business-minded solution to finding time for neglected friends—outsourcing. “I don’t even have time to leave this message,” explained a busy New York 20-something (Lauren Antler) to a friend’s (Greene) answering machine. Seconds later a hired, mustached Italian (Will Nunziata), fully briefed on the girls’ friendship, appeared in Antler's place at a restaurant. Startled and disgusted at first, Greene’s character was soon won over by the stand-in's impressive recollection of their friendship anecdotes. The result—beautiful memories captured on video and replayed for the audience on a wide screen to the Laverne & Shirley theme song.
The multimedia production is sparingly staged with only a white cloth divider and a few chairs, but greatly enhanced by musical interludes, video footage, and lighting adjustment, all of which were used with skill and discretion. Song standouts included, “We Got this War on Terror, Let’s Make it Last Forever,” in which a terrorist and a U.S. politician finally admit “I’d be nothing without you,” and the music video of Cherry Pop, an invented pop star and sex icon who “doesn’t even have her period yet, yo.”
The character-driven skits and not-so-subtle irreverence are reminiscent of the MTV sketch comedy gem, “The State,” and Comedy Central's, "The Kids in the Hall." While the sketches are well-written and witty, it is also the diversity of characters the group is able to portray, as well as the fitting assignment of actor to character, that sets The Royal We apart. Antler excels in unselfconscious, talky roles, while pixie-like Greene takes on loud, neurotic females with poise and fervor. Nunziata makes a fine Neil Armstrong and although he was not quite as visible, Matt Johnson's talent clearly emerged in the musical segments. From shy intellectual to rabid homosexual, Miller can portray anyone.
Directed by film, theater, and improv guru, Kevin Scott, the five-some banned together in 2002 after studying with The Second City Training Center, and made their sketch debut with Does This War Make Me Look Fat? The show was invited to sketch comedy festivals around the country and recognized for its fidelity to character while exposing America’s absurdities. Be All That You Can Buy, the sophomore effort, should be regarded as some of the smartest New York comedy this year. Whether you love or hate Pepsi Edge, hipsters, President Bush, and autumn evening color schemes, this revue is one thing worth your money.
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Gene Frankel Theatre
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Category: Comedy
Written by: Not Available
Directed by: Kevin Scott
Produced by: The Royal We
Opened: October 29, 2004
Closed: November 13, 2004
Running Time: 1 hr 30 mins
Theater: Gene Frankel Theatre
Address: 24 Bond St.
New York, NY 10012
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Tickets: $10.00
none available
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Creative Team
Written and Performed by: The Royal We
Directed by: Kevin Scott
Produced By: The Royal We, Buddy and Janice Nunziata
Original Lyrics by: Matt Johnson, The Royal We
Technical Director: Mo Fathelbab
Original Music by: Jay Israelson, Will Nunziata, Jeremiah Vancans
Cast
Lauren Antler
Becca Greene
Matt Johnson
Jerry Miller
Will Nunziata
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