New York City is one of my favorite places to go. There is something about the fast pace, always loud, crowded streets that fill my heart with pure joy. There are endless possibilities of activities to do in the Big Apple, one of which is seeing shows. Walking down Broadway, bright posters of musicals and plays line the street. Beautiful theaters are awaiting crowds. What I love most about this street is the variety of shows going on at once. From "Hamilton" to "Chicago," and "School Of Rock" to "The Phantom of the Opera," there is a play out there for everyone. This past weekend, I saw "Oh, Hello" and it was incredible.
Walking into the Lyceum Theatre, I did not know what to expect. I am a huge fan of John Mulaney after watching his Netflix comedy specials "The Comeback Kid" and "New In Town." Both of his stand-up specials had me belly laughing from start to finish. When I heard he was having a Broadway show, I knew I needed to get tickets. As I looked into it, I saw that it was a play starring him and Nick Kroll as a spin-off of a segment from "The Kroll Show" on Comedy Central, best known for their "prank show" "Too Much Tuna." Although I never saw the show, I knew Nick Kroll was equally as funny so I figured I could not go wrong.
"Oh, Hello" is a two-man play highlighting Gil Faizon and George St. Geeland, two 70-year-old New Yorkers, bringing you through their crazy life, how they met, and how they got to where they are. With no intermission, and over an hour and a half running time, these unpredictable characters keep your smile wide and laugh continuing.
They begin the show with a few simple rules to follow; like keeping your cell phones on, taking pictures with bright flashes, and a few more that are clearly things you should avoid during a performance. With thick New York accents and a whacky wardrobe, you cannot help but laugh from the start.
Throughout the show, the two take you on a rollercoaster ride through the decades and how they lived through each one until they finally meet each other in college. The next 40 years of friendship and roommate relationship between Gil and George is anything but ordinary and never dull.
The running time listed in an hour and twenty minutes, but what makes the various running times are the unscripted parts of the show. While part of the play is scripted, these two play off of each other and the audience for a unique, unpredictable, show each time. Another factor that plays into the length is the surprise they have in store. Every show they have a special celebrity guest that comes in for a certain time and has an unscripted conversation with. Amy Schumer, Kristin Wiig, Matthew Broderick, Seth Meyers, and many more have accompanied the duo on stage. John Hodgman appeared on stage when I was watching, and he did not disappoint. He played off of the characters very well, engaging in Gill and George's lives. He had many quick comebacks and said one of my favorite lines from the show. No matter who the guest is, they always do a great job and keep the humor alive.
Watching these two friends do something they love on stage is an amazing thing to experience. You can tell how much fun they are having by the way they still giggle to themselves after performing for months and how they are so quick with humor when interacting with the audience. It is a quirky show that is not only entertaining but absolutely hilarious. John Mulaney and Nick Kroll have done an amazing job creating this play and an even better job putting it on.
If you are looking for a good time and a loud laugh, go see "Oh, Hello." Buy your tickets here.
