The New One

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First the good news: comedian Mike Birbiglia is back in town with a new solo performance piece at the Cherry Lane Theatre. Ever since seeing Sleepwalk with Me in 2009, I have been hooked on his brand of humor: good-natured, self-deprecating, unflinchingly honest and thoroughly grounded in life. To reveal too much about the story behind the present piece would spoil some of the pleasure, so I will merely say that the unifying theme is a look at Birbiglia’s experience of married life, couched in the story of his sofa (sorry for the pun; sometimes I just can’t resist.) The long opening sequence is virtually a love letter to his favorite sofa for all the pleasure it has given him. As Birbiglia is wont to do, he will return to the sofa motif more than once as he shares his ups and downs en route to a satisfying climax. To consider him merely a stand-up comedian would be to shortchange his enormous skill as a storyteller. Beowulf Boritt (Act One, The Scottsboro Boys) has designed a simple set of slat wood panels over brick that extend through the auditorium. The stage is bare except for a stool and a Persian rug, but there is a startling transformation about an hour in. Aaron Copp’s (My Girlfriend's Boyfriend, Thank God for Jokes) lighting is effective. His usual director Seth Barrish (My Girlfriend's Boyfriend, Thank God for Jokes) once again shows his flair for the material. Each time I see a new Birbiglia show, I am fearful that it could not possibly be as good as the previous one. Each time I am happy to find that my worries were groundless. My only quibble is that I think trimming out five or ten minutes would have improved the piece. Running time: 85 minutes, no intermission.

So what’s the bad news? Apparently, Birbiglia has developed quite a following. Despite the absence of any advertising that I could see, the entire run was virtually sold out before previews began. I heard about it only by chance. As I write this, there are a few scattered seats available until the end of July. Check the website (https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/991581/1530417600000) for possible changes. If you are not lucky enough to snag a seat, treat yourself to a consolation prize and watch one of his previous pieces on Netflix.

Thank God for Jokes ****

Ever since catching his first off-Broadway show, Sleepwalk with Me, seven years ago, I have been a fan of comedian Mike Birbiglia. His ingratiating, slightly self-deprecating persona, his skillful ability to seamlessly incorporate the audience into his monologue and the effortlessness with which he picks up motifs from earlier in the show and deftly weaves them into the performance make time spent with him a thoroughly rewarding experience. His 2011 show My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend was equally enjoyable and his new show, now at the Lynn Redgrave Theater, is, if anything, even better. Loosely organized around his anxiety preparing to host the Gotham Awards, the current monologue digresses in many amusing directions. At a more serious level, he addresses the power of jokes to offend as illustrated most brutally by the Charlie Hebdo murders. The 85 minutes flew by with very few moments that did not grab my attention. Beowulf Boritt’s simple set features a round wood platform backed by a wall with a few stained glass windows. Seth Barrish, his usual director, is back. Birbiglia’s plaid shirt and jeans suit the image he wants to project. He is a master of the monologue and we are lucky to have him back onstage. Running time: 85 minutes, no intermission.

My Girlfriend's Boyfriend ***

I greatly enjoyed Mike Birbiglia's comic monologue Sleepwalk with Me two years ago. His gentle self-deprecating manner and his way of embellishing a story with a multitude of funny detours appealed to me. I was afraid that his latest solo comedy, now at the Barrow Street Theatre, might be either repetitious or disappointing. My fears were unjustified. If anything, Birbiglia is even better now. To his previous strengths he has added a knack for physical comedy that is hilarious. His recreation of a queasy carnival ride and an airport run with an unwilling rolling suitcase were knee-slappers. The focus this time around is on the history of his social ineptitude from seventh grade to his thirties. Stories that first seen loosely knit turn out be part of a seamless arc. The 70 minutes flew by enjoyably without any letdowns. Seth Barrish directed.

I was surprised that there were only a handful of people over 40 in the sold-out house.