The Pajama Men – Just The Two of Each of Us
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Fairfax Studio, The Melbourne Arts Centre
Reviewed on April 7, 2013
Taking that left turn at Albuquerque.
Throughout recent history, the best comedic pairings all have one essential ingredient in common: that diametric opposites attract.
From Laurel and Hardy, Hope and Crosby, Abbott and Costello (not the politicians, maybe), Martin and Lewis, Cook and Moore, French and Saunders, and Armstrong and Miller, to Australia’s own Lano and Woodley, the biggest sparks always flew when physical, emotional, and cultural barriers collided.
Hot on the heels of their previous theatrical outing last season with ‘In The Middle of No One’, Shenoah Allen and Mark Chavez return to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival stage with their latest offering for 2013 entitled ‘Just The Two of Each of Us’.
Together, like Chicago’s Second City theatre troupe and LA’s Groundlings, New Mexico’s Allen and Chavez have fashioned their own brand of apparently nonsense improvisational magic. Flying by the seats of their respective flannel pants, they seemingly jump from zero to sixty and back again in ten seconds flat.
Combining broad physical and esoteric humour with split – second character shifts, join The Pajama Men on a 60 – minute romp that gets spectators shaking their collective heads with amazement, meanwhile rolling in the aisles at the same time. Pay special attention too, and be rewarded with a hatful of cerebral zingers that will leave instant fans grinning from ear to ear.
By turns innocent and anarchic, the pair strip sketch comedy back to its raw basics. Using nothing more than two chairs, their poker – faced pianist for musical accompaniment, and each other as props, Allen and Chavez will spellbind the audience through the simple act of storytelling.
Having said that, the tale that they weave is anyone’s guess, but taking the journey with them is part of the madcap fun.
Watch as a king and his willing assistant battle a hideous man – eating monster. Following seven hundred years of meticulous planning, they achieve temporary immortality, and meet a stellar cast of society’s misfits from the American Midwest on the way.
As my astute guest theorised, though their outfits are never discussed or referred to at any point during the hour – long performance, that the duo are indeed wearing pyjamas, only underlines and reinforces their infectious sense of play.
Like a pair of overactive children whacked out on red cordial, this showcase allows Allen and Chavez the latitude to break theatrical conventions and apparently make up their own rules, meanwhile willing the audience inside for the ride.
This is groundbreaking theatrical comedy at its best.
Image Source: Time Out