‘Mere Fluff’ at The Annoyance takes aim
at the ‘creamy nothingness of celebrity’

By Paul M. Banks

Without first reading a press release, one might wonder just what the overall theme of “Mere Fluff” is. The sketch comedy show is all about the building blocks of what makes one a celebrity in today’s star-obsessed culture. In disjointed fashion, it explores the stereotypical events and personalities that we call “fluff.” The gossip, chatter and personal anecdotes of celebs, or as Fox News Channel or People magazine would call it, lead story material. From most vignettes though, it’s difficult to discern the show’s overall meaning. A sketch featuring soulless reality television execs was funny, perhaps because their prospective show titles (“Deal or H.I.V.,” “America’s Most Retarded,” “Oops I stabbed you” or “Who Wants to Marry a Necrophiliac?”) are truly not too far away from what dominates the prime-time airwaves these days.

Fluff is directed by Kirk Hanley, who produced two hits, “Between Barack and a Hard Place” and “Disposable Nation,” for Second City. This two-person show stars Robyn Scott, who works as an actor, keynote speaker and workshop facilitator for Second City Communications, and Bill Larkin, whose credits include Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend” and Broadway in Chicago’s production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”
I found the opening-night performance I attended to be uneven with material that was extremely hit or miss. Some music numbers work, like Larkin’s spoof of cheesy ’80s sitcoms entitled “Gay Balding Ashmatic.” Others… not so much. Sometimes, it’s the material from way out of left field that kills (locals will love the bit featuring the Sears Tower and John Hancock Center personified in a greatly dysfunctional relationship). Other times, it’s the somewhat plausible scenarios (a bit featuring Ray Romano as a suicide helpline operator) that make you laugh.

In short, there’s no commonality as to what parts of the show are hilarious and what portions don’t work so well on stage. Seems like they left a little too much of their “B material” in with their “A material,” and we all could have benefited from a shorter running time.

One of the first rules of comedy is that it’s strictly a “night thing.” In other words, the later the starting time, the better. Part of the reason is because it gives the audience ample time to have a few cocktails and become amused much more easily. This show starts at 9:30, and in the audience on opening night, there were plenty of loud people who seemed quite easily amused. Overall, it reminded me of the mid-90s Canadian sketch comedy series “Kids in the Hall.” When you watch, you’ll see an equal number of bits “killing” as you will “dying.”

The $10 show runs every Wednesday at 9:30 until May 7 and features free Fluffernutters upon conclusion!

The Annoyance Theatre & Bar
4830 N. Broadway
(773) 561-4665
www.annoyanceproductions.com

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