THE HANGOVER REPORT – The hilarious, deceptively slight RANDY WRITES A NOVEL digs deeper than you’d think

Randy in "Randy Writes a Novel" at The Clurman Theatre at Theatre Row.

Randy in “Randy Writes a Novel” at The Clurman Theatre at Theatre Row.

Last night, I caught the final performance of the deceptively slight one-man comedy Randy Writes a Novel, an hilarious import from Australia (the show had made a number of international stops en route to New York), at Off-Broadway’s Clurman Theatre at Theatre Row. I forgot to mention one thing, though – Randy is a puppet, and a foul-mouthed one, at that. Those of you expecting Avenue Q on a shoestring budget are somewhat on the money. Both shows feature puppet(s), R-rated language, and penchant for a good joke, but Randy Writes a Novel is more than that. It’s a curious hybrid of a show that’s part interactive theater, part stand-up comedy, part confessional, and part proper play. And it works.

From the start, it’s clear that the show’s enigmatic creator and performer Heath McIvor is a very talented puppeteer. The fact that I very quickly forgot that Randy is essentially a fancy sock puppet is a testament to the vivacious life Mr. McIvor invests in his creation. But don’t let appearances fool you. Our purple host for the evening ultimately lands on some meaty philosophical territory. Over the course of just less than ninety minutes, the quick-witted Randy thoughtfully muses on some rather universal concerns we all face, from death and legacy to the nature of art. It’s all very unexpected, and welcome.

I’m very glad I was able to experience Randy Writes a Novel.

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RANDY WRITES A NOVEL
Off-Broadway, Play
The Clurman Theatre at Theatre Row
1 hour, 20 minutes (without an intermission)
Closed

Categories: Off-Broadway, Theater

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