(originally intended for BrooklynVegan. Sadly, a series of misconnections left it unpublished)
image c/o Joel Barhamand
One of the weirdest, still-gettin’-used-to-this events to happen to your man Klaus recently was the relocation of Ma Kinski and Pa Kinski from their sleepy home in Cape Cod to Midtown Manhattan so Pa Kinski could take a job that was apparently sweet enough for him to retire from retirement for. Although they’ve only been here a month, and although they are putting absolutely zero pressure on your man Klaus to keep them entertained, I find myself subconsciously trying to find something for them to do that is Klaus approved; basically so they can walk a mile in my shoes and see what I’ve been getting into since I moved here 11 years ago. The first experience I invited them to was Citizen Radio Live, hosted by the great Jamie Kilstein and Allison Kilkenny, at the UCB Theater on March 11. Pa Kinski is an omnivorous right-wing disciple of Glen Beck and Rush Limbaugh and Don Imus and many other people I wouldn’t mind seeing experience the breaking wheel, so I knew seeing a leftist politi-comedy show in the basement of a grocery store would be a great shock to his system. I also knew that he adores journalist Matt Taibbi and that his presence would ease the pain. The show featured Sarah Silverman, Taibbi, Regina Spektor, and Only Son. My parents (and I) absolutely LOVED the show (which you can watch in its entirety below), and it occurred to me that politics aside they are pretty ideal show-going companions. Awww.
So anyways I had been thinking about our next adventure and it occurred to me that the one show I had been dying to see, called Supernormal at PS 122, was still happening. I almost missed my opportunity to ever see it, but they (smartly) ended up extending the show so I was able to catch it last night, Ma Kinski and Pa Kinski in tow. Supernormal is a one man comedic tour-de-force featuring Klaus Kinski favorite Tom Shillue. Tom is a master storyteller, and the stories contained within the show have been workshopped over the past 10 years at spaces like Moonwork’s Evening of Original Works. As a matter of fact, a large part of my Shillue-mania is a result of my seeing him so many times at Moonwork. Shillue is from Massachusetts originally, as are the Kinski’s, so I knew this 90 minute show about Tom’s experiences in suburban Boston and NYC would be a hit. And a hit it was. I don’t use the term “literally” that often but hear me and hear me well; Supernormal is LITERALLY the funniest one man show I have ever seen. I have never laughed so much at a 90 minute comedy show in my life. His stories about his retarded uncle Bobby, an amazing wintertime retractable snot rope, Jack Palance, adventures at Emerson College (my alma mater) inventing the Vogue at Tunnel, and hiding from God inside a diner in NYC are just some of the topics covered that caused me to laugh so hard my glasses were falling off and my belt buckle kept coming undone. Proving to be perfect comedy companions again, my father was laughing so hard I thought we’d have to call an ambulance. It was riotous. People tend to find hilarious the things that they relate to, so as an ex-Masshole, Emersonian who watched Liz Walker on TV and went to Canobie Lake Park you might think I am biased. But you’re wrong. This show transcends upbringing, familiarity, and geography. There are only two shows left; tonight (April 8 at 10pm) and tomorrow (April 9 at 8pm) and I am urging you to see this show before it’s gone. I hope someday it will end up as an HBO special or something, but if you have even the slightest interest in laughing your ass off this is your chance!
Oh, and speaking of Moonwork, they used to put on their shows at the Phil Coltoff Center on Sullivan street, but have sadly lost that space. They are currently on the hunt for a new space that is equipped with / can accommodate a large crowd, a stage, and an area for beer service. From personal experience, Moonwork is a fantastic arena to see some of the best comics in the biz do their thing, while enjoying intoxicating beverages. If anyone has any leads in Manhattan, do visit the site and give them a shout. Thx. Luv ya!
Continue reading ‘Tom Shillue at PS 122, Citizen Radio At UCB, and More’
