Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – In her acclaimed HA HA HA HA HA HA HA, Julia Masli channels her inner extraterrestrial clown-cum-therapist

• By drediman
• May 27, 2024
• No Comments

This past weekend, I was able to catch up with Julia Masli’s Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha. A huge hit across the pond both at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as well as its subsequent London transfer at Soho Theatre, the solo show — with heavy assist from audiences — arrives in New York at Off-Broadway’s SoHo Playhouse with a slew of enthusiastic critical notices and strong word of mouth (the show was named the year’s top comedy show by The Guardian). So does this Estonian, now London-based comedian’s enigmatic show live up to live up to expectations?

In short, yes. It also subverts them somehow. Indeed, to characterize the difficult-to-categorize show as unique would be an understatement — and what Masli is able to pull off is a truly impressive hat trick. Slowly emerging from a passageway onto the stage, she hesitantly takes the spotlight channeling her inner extraterrestrial clown-cum-therapist. As her loveably deadpan alter-ego, Masli spends the gently interactive hourlong show endeavoring to solve as many of the audience members’ problems as possible. Gliding ghostlike up and down the aisle, she hand-selects her subjects, imploring them with a single-word inquiry, “Problem?” Throughout, she keeps the words spoke to a minimum, using her keen understanding of human nature and quick wit to yield economically wrought, incisively observational humor.

Although it may seem that Masli operates by her own logic and marches to the beat of her own drum, there’s a bedrock of theatrical tradition that underlies Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha. Namely, the performance is inspired by and draws heavily from European avant-garde (e.g., clowning and miming) and absurdist theater traditions, as well as the obvious nods to stand-up comedy and improv. With this array of performance styles to draw from, Masli is able to masterfully and ingeniously orchestrate a theatrical experience that feels totally organic and original.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
Comedy
SoHo Playhouse
Approximately 1 hour (without an intermission)
Through