The Groundlings Yearbook
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Friedman
Photo by Samuel Primero
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By Joseph N. Feinstein
For over thirty years, The Groundlings group has been holding forth in their home on Melrose Avenue, creating hysterical laughter everywhere they go. In their most recent performance, which opened Friday, July 20 for an indefinite run, the yuks come at a dizzying pace.
In his opening remarks, Hugh Davidson warns the audience that The Groundlings have now been bought out by Time-Warner in their relentless pursuit of take-overs of the world's entertainment. "Expect changes," he tells us in a most facetious, sarcastic manner. "Please do fill out the two questionnaires we'll give you so that they will know exactly what pleases you and what doesn't."
What pleases you following this announcement are fifteen sketches performed by their mighty troupe including: Stephanie Courtney, Mikey Day, Nat Faxon, Andrew Friedman, Steve Little, Edi Patterson, Steven Pierce, Kent Sublette and Jim Rash. Each takes center stage for a few moments to regale us with a humorous portrayal. Among my favorites is: a PSA offered by Yanni (Friedman) in which the charity's pronounciation, "Multiple Sclerosis," gets beaten and battered ("Why can't I say cancer?"); a classroom setting where you will learn that the brain is bigger than the vagina...or is it; a trip to the Planetarium that will leave you in helpless laughter; the meeting on a blind date of two people with malocclusion of their teeth; a visit with the "Mind-Freak" (Day) as he tells the future to a willing audience ; and, perhaps the very funniest sketch, a lesson on how to write a smash hit with Jim and Dale (Little and Faxon), in which the error of their ways will help you lose it completely.
One of the major differences in this program's offerings is the single improv coming as the last act of the show. Heretofore, there were four to six improvs in each show, but when you develop such outstanding sketches, no one can berate them for that!
Deanna Oliver, the director, keeps her zany group on their creative toes throughout the almost two-hour program. Those long blackouts between sketches have been cut considerably, but the band keeps the pace going to everyone's delight. Because this was opening night, Ms. Oliver asked former members of The Groundlings in the audience to stand, and I counted at least fifteen coming to attention. Other than those fifteen, you can also include Will Ferrell, Chris Kattan, Cheryl Hines, Jon Lovitz, Will Forte, and a dozen others who went on to wider fame.
This Yearbook has all the ingredients to help you forget your problems, tickle your funnybone, and warm your soul.
Groundlings Yearbook @ The Groundlings Theatre 7307 Melrose Avenue West Hollywood 90046 323-934-4747, ext. 37. Playing Friday @ 8:00 p.m. and Sat. @ 8:00 p.m. & 10:00 p.m. Tickets $20.
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