JUST SAY YES // A THEATRE REVIEW OF "VERN OFF BROADWAY!"
Vern, the musical improv sketch group that has been making up their songs and lyrics for six years, is now is returning to the stage with their own brand of musical insanity: VERN OFF BROADWAY! Taking up residence through 2022, Vern is comprised of a group of eight very talented comedians who break the evening into two acts: The first act takes suggestions from the audience and creates both improved scenes and songs. The second act takes two audience suggestions (one audience member picks a number and then another one reads the last text they received according to the number just read). That serves as the inspiration for the entire second act, which is a full beginning, middle and end musical, improved all the way through. What's great about seeing VERN OFF BROADWAY is that you can see it multiple times and you'll never see the same show twice.
The evening that I saw it they opened with a very silly Submarine song, where the entire crew had slept together. From there, they went on and did several improv games and songs. They ranged from a Broadway audition, where the cast had to keep switching the style of their improved songs to match a certain musical (Mamma Mia, Come From Away, Frozen & Chicago were among the ones thrown at them). There was also a "ding game" (similar to the David Ives play Sure Thing)where the actor on stage has to keep replacing what he was saying with something more ridiculous each time the bell dings. One of the most fun scenes of the night was where one actor (Jeff Scherer) had to guess the "wacky affliction" of the dinner party guests onstage. Only the audience and the rest of Vern knew what was afflicting them and it was quite fun seeing the guessing game of each person's affliction (one person was Rachel Barry from Glee, one a rat with no nose and another was a person with horns but trying to hide them).
Act II was the biggest highlight: a fully improved musical, with a beginning, middle and end. The musical ended up being about a couple and their friend waiting for a train in Germany. They break up, make a bet and lose all their money. We also meet a couple of rats who are thrilled at the idea of American tourists because they know how messy we are. There was also a sorcerer, a devious but in love train conductor and a swell happy ending for all. The entire cast all shined in different moments and they worked wonderfully together. Each had their own brand of off-the-wall humor and were always willing to be more and more silly. Some of the highlights from my night was Matt Giroveanu's bizarre train conductor, watching Jeff Scherer try to guess who his guests are and seeing every one of Julie Feltman's characters. Honestly, they all truly were highlights. This is a very funny improv group, well worth the ticket price and trip downtown. Hell, you can even get a beer at your seat (long as you put your mask right back on, mind you). Do yourself a favor and go see VERN OFF BROADWAY. These days, more than ever, we need a little ridiculousness in our lives. And Vern's got some to spare. And share.
GRADE: A
CREATED AND STARRING Rachel Bouton, Kiki Mikkelsen, Julie Feltman, Mikey Cakes, Matt Giroveanu, Jeff Scherer, Katie Hammond, Daniel Tepper FOR MORE INFO AND FUTURE DATES: VERN OFF BROADWAY!