Posted: 11/14/18 at 2:14pm
Mike talks to the NYT about cell phone use during his show with SEVERAL audio clips of him handling it with his audience: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/14/theater/mike-birbiglia-cellphone-disruption-broadway.html
Posted: 11/14/18 at 3:12pm
I've been a fan for a long time. I remember his old Comedy Central set where he was still making that joke about people mispronouncing his name (seriously, is it difficult? Just sound it out). I'm heartened by the word of mouth on here because I felt very similarly. I think I'm particularly attuned to his style now because I'm so used to the rhythms and cadence of his comedy. But yeah, there were a lot "easy" jokes. I wonder if he thought it would play better in a Broadway house. It was still a very funny set, but more for the delivery than the material. This wasn't exactly a new hot take on having a child (and I think you figure out pretty early on that's what the night is going to be about even though there are a lot of digressions and it takes a while to hone in to the main point). That said, I do feel like even if you don't find every joke hilarious, he'll eventually win you over and you'll have a good night out. As for any accusations of sexism, I didn't see it. It was just some lazy jokes. I actually thought it pandered to women. Speaking of sitcoms, it's like the old trope of the smart, capable wife with the lazy, incompetent husband. He does get serious at moments but while I sympathized, I don't think I ever found it that emotionally compelling. I feel like for people who don't know him, it's sounding like an old school comedy routine. Really, it's just a particularly well-crafted story from NPR or The Moth. It has that sensibility but wrapped around stories of reckoning with parenthood (which I'm beginning to think is just not that compelling of a subject. How many different ways can you say the same thing?).
One thing I appreciated was seeing a stand up roll with bad audience behavior. He was able to call out someone taking pictures and another person whose phone rang and it didn't feel like as big of a deal as calling a play to a halt. Though obviously it would be better if it wasn't a problem that needed to be addressed.
Also, his old specials are on Netflix if you're curious.
Posted: 11/14/18 at 3:27pm
haterobics said: "Mike talks to the NYT about cell phone use during his show with SEVERAL audio clips of him handling it with his audience:https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/14/theater/mike-birbiglia-cellphone-disruption-broadway.html"
Love this! He also asked us to give a standing ovation to the folks who arrived 30 minutes late and were seated second row, center orchestra. Has anyone been in another performance and had anything like these events happen?
Posted: 11/14/18 at 11:42pm
Posted: 12/8/18 at 12:33pm
