Adam Michael Lewis appears in the one-actor show, MONO-BLOGS: SUFFERING FOOLS, which he also wrote, and this intensely personal – and totally successful – comic exercise is currently playing at Harrison Hilltop Theatre.
Styled after the oeuvre of Bill Hicks, this highly entertaining solo work is also sometimes reminiscent of Sam Kinison and Chris Farley – featuring observations and stories that morph into full-blown rants. The tempo of MONO-BLOGS, in fact, ebbs and flows from conversational to ultra-intense, which is actually perfect for a stage presentation of material that consists of grudging journal entries and obsessive blogging.
Framed by tales of less-than-ideal work situations (many of which sound as though they come directly from Lewis’ own varied career), these blogs are tirades about pet owners who think their dogs are people, restaurant customers who order white zinfandel or don’t tip, abortion opponents, and bumper stickers on cars. The early journal entries – especially about the downstairs neighbors – and the tale of an early morning run are perhaps the most laugh-aloud parts of the show, which actually has many such moments. Well, okay, let’s also add the Victoria’s Secret story and the theater class lecture to the highlights list, too, because there are plenty of other things that are also funny here.
The humor is often dark and sharp, with detours into some grossly graphic territory, and any of you with a snarky, irreverent sensibility will be the ones to enjoy this show the most. Lewis, who stumbled only a time or two on opening night – despite what seems like a torrent of words in the script – does as well as an actor here as he does a playwright. With both responsibilities, he showcases major talent, and proves himself highly entertaining. MONO-BLOGS has a lot of great writing, and the combination of live monologues and voiceovers makes for a nicely-textured structure.
Adams and the show both benefit from the talents of others, including those of Jason Connor (who is credited with co-conception and associate directing here) and Tristan Layne Tapscott (who is co-director, co-producer and technical director). Production designer Kelly Lohrenz, lighting and sound tech Tyler Vosecky and production manager Adam Overberg also lend their skills to the show.
This show, which Harrison Hilltop Theatre billed as "Rated R," is certainly not for everyone, but it offers plenty of laughs and a number of insights to the rest of us.
I thoroughly enjoyed MONO-BLOGS: SUFFERING FOOLS, and encourage you to do the same.
