Still Got It

Reviewed by Mayank Keshaviah
Sacred Fools Theater (Black Box)
Through June 19

Imagine a night of comedy featuring Steven Wright and Gallagher back to back. Now imagine that instead of following one another’s acts, the two comedians alternate jokes in the same set, and you’ll get a sense of the way Brendan Hunt trades on the juxtaposition of understated and uninhibited moments in his latest solo show.

In the piece, Hunt takes us on a journey through “A Tale of One Weekend in 7 Scenes” as the opening projection announces. The weekend revolves around Hunt’s character, Tim O’Connor, and the toast he gives at his best friend Gary’s wedding.

Initially, however, we see Tim at the police station, describing to a detective why he was drunk and accidentally hurled an empty liquor bottle in the direction of a priest. This testimonial serves as a framing device for Tim to relive both the weekend and his friendship with Gary, as he begins to take stock of his life in the process.

Hunt, whose acting and writing talents shone brightly in Absolutely Filthy (also at Sacred Fools), is as fun to watch as ever. He manages to make an alcoholic at his lowest ebb both empathetic and even charming in moments. On the night I attended, he also masterfully dealt with a drunken “heckler” of sorts in the audience, seamlessly weaving his rebuke of her into the storyline of the play.

The script itself, however, feels a bit raw: an outline with potential, but one that could use fleshing out and perhaps the addition of other actors. Here’s hoping Hunt takes the Fringe experience and uses it to develop the piece further.

Sacred Fools Theater (Black Box), 6322 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood; through June 19. www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/3636. Running time: 50 minutes