“I do stand-up comedy, obviously, for the irony” says Neal, who is in a wheelchair. After his set, Lee approaches him and says she liked his set better than the headliner, Sarah Silverman. They grab drinks and she asks him for advice about standup. He directs her to a local open-mic and thus begins their friendship.

Neal says “it doesn’t matter if the audience is laughing, as long as they are listening.” The bits of humor are mixed with a lot of drama, darkness and tragedy that are riveting. For both characters, comedy is not just a passion or a profession.  It is their coping mechanism for dealing with the trauma that they have been dealt with in life. It might be the one thing keeping them going and this is something that brings them together over the course of the play.

Andrew Hinderaker has written an excellent piece of theatre that explores the world of stand-up. He specifically wrote the piece for these actors as they are all ensemble members at The Gift Theatre. His comedy knowledge is clearly displayed in the comedian references (Mitch Hedburg, Beth Stelling, Neal Brennan) and the character’s standup sets, which are absolutely hilarious. The opening set is indistinguishable from a regular standup show. The audience is really expecting Silverman to come out after his set. 

Michael Patrick Thornton (Doubt) is fantastic as Nate, who is a hilarious comedian who has been through some traumatic times. Cyd Blakewell (The Locusts) is so funny as Lee, who also has experienced dark trama, which bonds them. 

Overall, this is a fantastic blend of theatre of stand-up comedy that should not be missed!

Cost of a ticket: $40

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It +

Rating Scale: Exceptional Value > Worth It > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Get tickets now for Obliteration through May 4th!

Quinn Delaney