Radio Comedy, Served in Convenient Eye-Friendly Format

Would you like to be suspended and subsequently thrilled?  For a whole hour (or more)???  If you’re in Los Angeles, you can.  And you have been able to for the last six years.  On March 5^th, The Thrilling Adventure and Supernatural Suspense Hour will present its sixth anniversary show at Largo at the Coronet.

What is The Thrilling Adventure Hour?  It’s a monthly stage show done in the style of an old timey radio programme (the type your uncle stays in the car to enjoy while you and your aunt suffer Wal-Mart’s interior).  Some of the top names in film, television, and comedy (try Paul F. Tompkins, Busy Phillips, Paget Brewster, Kevin Pollak, and oodles of other folks you’re fond of) get all gussied up and take the stage as the WorkJuice Players, lending their vocal talents to the serialized adventures of Sparks Nevada, Marshal on Mars and Jefferson Reed, Ace American! (complete with commercial “sponsors” like Patriot Brand Cigarettes – “They’re good for your constitution”).

On March 5^th, the WorkJuice Players will be joined by Patton Oswalt, Andrew Daly, and Danica McKellar in a show that is certain to induce a sort of laughter-based, blissful belly ache.  If you can’t make it to the show (or you’re pouting that you missed past guests like Nathan Fillion and Andy Richter), dry your eyes and ready your q-tips!  The Thrilling Adventure Hour can still tickle your eardrums via podcast (here for iTunes and here for weirdos).

Looks like “face made for radio” is no longer an insult.  Not so special now, are we, Seacrest?

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• WHAT: Staged production of an old-time radio show / Hilarity
• WHERE: Largo at the Coronet, 366 N. La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048
• WHEN: Monthly, 8:30 PM (upcoming shows: March 5th, April 2nd)
• $$$: Tickets $25, Podcast FREE!

A Study of Transgenerational Sexual Relations, or "Lady and the Gramps"

Please holster any derisive, if fitting, observations on the state of live theater in our city: from their stately HQ in the heart of Little Tokyo, the East West Players have been a Los Angeles institution for decades.  Countless Asian-American actors, from James Hong and Pat Morita to B.D. Wong and John Cho (and, lest we forget, Jin) have risen through their ranks, and for their 45th anniversary season, they have gifted us with Wrinkles, a bold new production from director Jeff Liu.

Though it centers on a Japanese-American family, the story is universal: unbeknowst to his daughter and grandson, 73-year-old retiree Harry Fukutani holds a successful clandestine career as a hardcore porn star.  If that sounds outlandish, consider that Shigeo Tokuda has done exactly that in real life for years.  And no, I don’t think it’s weird I know that.

Paul Kikuchi’s hilarious script moves at a fast clip: between a chance discovery of a bag of...stuff, and the sudden appearance of Teena, Harry’s Lolita-esque co-star, the truth crashes down on the Fukutani family, leading to an examination of the morality of pornography, the meaning of aging gracefully, and the solidarity of family through crises.  With vibrator jokes.  So yeah, while it might be prudent to leave the kiddies at home, the subject matter is handled with measured restraint, deftly straddling (too easy) the line between family drama and jokes about doin’ it.

Wrinkles’  carefully-calibrated characters are matched with an excellent cast: Sab Shimono could pass for anyone’s hard-nosed Grampa, yet channels a cool confidence that makes his character’s secret life of plowing women a third his age oddly credible.  Amy Hill’s stellar performance as divorced mom Nancy grounds the material with an emotional core, and her evolution from a mere “tiger mom” is both compelling and believable.  Elizabeth Ho’s Teena (“with two E’s”) infuses the proceedings with a kinetic, kawaii energy, and her fearless performance delivers some of the bigger laughs in the play.  Ki Hong Lee, playing grandson Jason, performs his role as unlikely voice of reason (read: the pro-porn position) with endearing earnest.

Sure, there are some easy jokes spread across the length of the play, but they mostly land face-up, and everything builds to a satisfying climax.  You’re guaranteed a happy ending, is what I’m saying.  Is...is this thing on?
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• WHAT:  Well-directed “family” comedy Wrinkles
• WHERE:  David Henry Hwang Theater, 120 Judge John Aiso Street; Los Angeles, CA 90012
• WHEN:  February 10th -- March 13th
• $$$:  Regular-price tickets $25-35; consult website for full details.

Intimate Comedy Will Melt Your Heart

In the basement of a comedy store the last thing you’ll hear is laughter. Quiet reverence for a poster of 1970’s Spiderman sporting an afro maybe, but not laughter.

Well bite me with a radioactive spider, because what I thought I knew about subterranean hilarity has been shattered. Every single Wednesday, the most talented joke-crafters of our time gather in a cozy room at the back of Meltdown Comics and dispense joy to an eager crowd.

I’m talking about some of the heaviest hitters in the game, like Maria Bamford, Aziz Ansari and Brian Posehn, as well as comedians that will undoubtedly be stars in the future: Kyle Kinane, Matt Braunger, Moshe Kasher, and TJ Miller (from every single movie made last year). The Meltdown is hosted by two of the funniest guys to ever grace a stage, Jonah Ray and Kumail Nanjiani. The last time I saw Kumail, I laughed so hard people thought I was a cheese addict. Sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with other comedy aficionados and wiping tears from your eyes will make you feel like you're in some sort of comedy speakeasy.

All this for 8 bucks?! Sign me up! BUT WAIT! Hold your dark horses folks, because there’s FREE BEER! That’s right I said it, all you can drink beer with the purchase of a ticket! Just don’t forget to tip your bartender and not be that guy.

Planning on drinking on an empty stomach? I sure hope not, because a variety of FOOD TRUCKS line the street every week. Vietnamese-American fusion, cupcakes, pick-up, you name it. If you wanted to put a cupcake in a burrito and turn it all into a smoothie, you could probably make it happen outside this show.

If you drank yourself silly and listened to comedy alone it would be depressing, but combine those activities with other people and you have a recipe for fun! Next Wednesday, head to the Meltdown for hilarity AND free beer AND delicious food AND dope posters! You’ll be happier than Baby Stand-up Comedian Batman.

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• WHAT: Comedy, beers, and eat-em'-ups at the Meltdown Show
• WHERE: 7522 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046
• WHEN: Every Wednesday at 8:30 PM
• $$$: $8.00 for comedy and unlimited beers