BWW Reviews: GROUNDLINGS KUNG FU BATTLE ISLAND - The Ultimate Destination of Laughter
By: Gil Kaan May. 11, 2015
Groundlings Kung Fu Battle Island/written by The Groundlings/directed by Jim Rash/Groundlings Theatre/thru July 11, 2015
Groundlings Kung Fu Battle Island, the latest in The Groundlings' continued, well-oiled, laugh-filled Friday & Saturday night shows, just keeps the fine-tuned physical comedy and the hysterical jokes flowing. Adeptly directed by Oscar-winning screenwriter Jim Rash, the evening of fifteen skits and improv pieces receives great punctuation and able accent from the amazing Groundlings Band (Howard Greene on drums, Larry Treadwell on guitar, and musical director Willie Etra on keyboards), as well as, the perfectly-timed sound cues and effects designed by Paul Matlock. The Groundlings Band also keeps the audience entertainingly charged and energized throughout the necessary but very efficient and smooth set changes.
The ultra-talented Groundling members performing in Groundlings Kung Fu Battle Island include: Lauren Burns, Jim Cashman, Laurel Coppock, H Michael Croner, Ryan Gaul, Annie Sertich, Mitch Silpa, and Greg Worswick.
The evening begins with a stunning opener - "Sleepover" written by Sertich. Sertich plays the "lame" mom of a high schooler who's invited a couple of his friends over for the evening. To illustrate her 'un-lameless," Sertich's Mom acts out (using sign language and body language) the lyrics to Abba's "Take a Chance on Me" to great comic effect. With her "lameness" further challenged by the kids, she takes on the hip-hop song "Bang Bang" to maximum comedic effect. Whoa! Brava Ms. Sertich!
In "Coffee" (written by Coppock, who you'll recognize as "Jan" in the Toyota commercials), Coppock plays a very, very annoying co-worker repeated trying to join in a coffee break with Sertich and Burns. Coppock's machinations ramp up to the physical schtick reminiscent of Martin Short's Ed Grimley. Short would be most flattered!
In "The Final Rose," a spoof of "The Bachelor" (written by Croner and Worswick), the two of them, in drag, remain the final two that Bachelor Gaul has to chose between to send home. Both individually, then alternately, plead the case for Gaul to present the final rose to the other. Croner's and Worswick's alternating riffs prove more and more over-the-topping, as each attempt to outplead the other. Too funny!
And who's says comedy can't be seriously touching? In "We'll Hook You Up" (written by Croner and Cashman), Croner's a care-free car rental agent with his double-teaming spiel down pat with dispatcher Cashman. The two of them's so slick persuasive, they charmingly upsell every potential renter that walks in with promised visions of coolness and fawning women. That is until Worswick appears. Their pitch doesn't work on him as he's not out to party, but to take his little girls and family to an amusement park. Both Croner and Cashman realize how shallow and immature they both remain and begin to break down in tears while dispensing grown-up advice to Worswick. Both nail their 'instant' maturation quite convincingly. So sweet! So touching! Soooo hilarious!
"High School Aerobics Finals" (written by Gaul and Coppock) have the pair of them as the dorkiest teenage aerobics team ever. Their moves and striked poses must have been very difficult to learn--like every wrong movement one could do, but their efforts pay off big time in continuous guffaws.
"Landing Patch" (written by Croner and Gaul) takes place on a plane with Coppock and Gaul travelling as a couple and being waited on by the steward Croner. As Croner and Gaul notice each other's soul patch, they both compliment each other. The compliments lead to comparing necklace charms which they coincidentally got at a Counting Crows concert years ago they both attended. As their mutual admiration society grows, the ignored Coppock sitting in the middle of the two men starts to get irritated. The attraction just swells leading Gaul to follow Croner jumping out of the plane. This riotous sketch of bromance does have a happy ending!
The evening ends with "Hot Wheels" (written by Sertich and Silpa). Set in a nursing home, Sertich and Silpa compete in a talent contest. They're wheeled around in their wheelchairs by their dancing caretakers Worswick and Burns. In between their well-executed choreography, these stage-struck custodians pose Sertich and Silpa in assorted ta-da! poses that comically result in one's face in the others crotch or Silpa's hands on Sertich's breasts or other compromising positions. Great closer! Great show!
Final note: How incredibly generous of all these talented performers taking their turns fully supporting the others, never upstaging the scripted leads. Great teamwork! Great troupe!
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