Overflowing Luxury: A Millionaire's Sketch Show

I went to see Overflowing Luxury: A Millionaire's Sketch Show tonight at The Public House Theater. The evening started off remarkably unpleasant and ended exceptionally satisfying. The unpleasantness had nothing to do with the show and everything to do with the venue. The lay out of the Public House is very odd and cumbersome, there was probably a dozen employees working(too many for the cramped space) most of which ignored the theater patrons or if engaged were distant and only grudgingly helpful. Nicole and I waited at the bar with three employees behind it for ten minutes before we were able to get sodas(with our mandatory drink ticket included in the price of a ticket).

Once we got into the theater it was a relief and once the show started it was a joy. The conceit is a fundraising event for three millionaires to keep them in the style of luxury to which they have become accustomed, the event is held up, and from a panic room loosely connected stories unfold about class, family, and work. The tone of the show is a combination of absurdity and heart woven together with stylized transitions.

The show has a fast pace, is dialogue heavy, and engaging. What shocked me about the show were the scenes about fatherhood. These guys, who are my peers, have a surprising facility playing dads and ground a couple of bizarre situations with genuine heart that should be beyond their life experience.

My favorite scene of the night was an interrogation scene between Tim and Asher. Asher is distracted during a police interrogation scene he's performing because it's almost the end of father's day and his son hasn't called. Tim consoles him and empathizes with losing touch with a son. My favorite bit of the night was by far Vince as a "bad" rapping hostage negotiator(the rap was actually great).

All in all a quick, fun, silly-sweet show. Clocking in at only 45 minutes I would have liked a second act to see where a number of threads and characters ended up.

Two more chances to see the show, Saturdays at 10pm at the Public House Theater. See It.