The New One
Reviewed by Stephen Fife
Center Theatre Group
Through November 24
RECOMMENDED
On the opening night of the Los Angeles production of his one-man show, Mirk Birbiglia peered out from behind the stage curtain, then walked out onstage. “Is this supposed to be opening night?” he asked. Several heads in the audience nodded. “I have no idea why this is opening night, and not yesterday or tomorrow,” he confessed to everyone at the Ahmanson. “Just a warning: there may be a very close resemblance between this performance and every other one.”
This moment was vintage Birbiglia and encapsulates a lot of his appeal — spontaneous, genuine, anti-celebrity, very human. Also, smart but not snarky. Most comedians speak in terms of “killing” the audience as a measure of success. “I slayed,” “I crushed,” “I ruled” — such aggressive terms of comedian’s self-praise don’t seem applicable to the self-effacing Birbiglia. Similarly, he does not seem to have concocted a comic persona so much as found a public face to communicate his private self.
The New One — excellently directed by Seth Barrish — is Birbiglia’s true-life experience of fatherhood. Or, more specifically, of being certain that he did not want to have children. Ever. Unlike other such stories, Birbiglia did not have a change of heart, nor did his sense of priorities mellow with age. Rather, he was dragged reluctantly into it by his wife Jen, whom he was and is deeply in love with.
Not wanting children is a popular sentiment and a hot topic, but this seems to have little to do with Birbiglia’s impulse for telling it. Some of his reasons will certainly resonate with others, like not being able to relate to children, and how expensive and “relentless” the process of parenting is. Also, how repulsed he is by the behavior of parents, such as his own brother, whose child used the “Einstein for Children” program, but who (Birbiglia confides to us) is no Einstein. Then there are Birbiglia’s extensive and very unusual health concerns, which it would be wrong to give away except to affirm that his negative feelings about his own DNA are well-founded.
Suffice it to say that I found the experience of Birbiglia’s journey into fatherhood deeply pleasurable, both as a piece of writing (great visual metaphors!) and as a comic performance. He is unique among contemporary comedians, with Seinfeld’s sharp observational humor (but without the self-congratulatory smirk) and with the deeply personal confessional humor of lesser-known comics like Hannah Gadsby (but without her barbed anger). He reminds me of the monologist Spalding Gray in his self-effacing humor, but more down-to-earth and relatable.
This evening is for those who enjoy laughing about the human condition without the cynicism or bitterness brought to the forefront by the stand-up comedian in the White House. Birbiglia is the real deal and seeing him in person is essential to getting the full effect of his comic brilliance. He appeals to the audience’s imagination, intelligence and emotional core. All the critical superlatives he’s received turn out to be well-deserved.
Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., Downtown L.A.—Civic Center; Tues.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 p.m.; Sun., 1 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.; through Nov. 24. (855) 223-9532 or https://www.centertheatregroup.org/booking/best-available?prod_no=16636&perf_no=17039. Running time: 90 minutes with no intermission.
