WHOA // A THEATRE REVIEW OF "THERE IS NO SPOON: THE USUAL REJECTS"

BY MATEO MORENO

There are a lot of great comedy shows in New York, from The Pit to UCB, The Comedy Cellar to those wacky folks in Spamilton. But one of the most unique ones is the pack of misfits who call themselves "The Usual Rejects." Here's the concept: For each show they tackle a different movie. The audience sits down, the cast of the night is revealed and is told the rules of the game. The cast will do a staged reading, in costume, of the movie they are parodying. They include props, sound effects, and a lot of naughty curse words. Oh, did I mention that it's a drinking game? Because it is. If this all sounds familiar it might be because I did a write up of it here at "The ArtsWire Weekly" in 2015.

The latest incarnation was a one night event called THERE IS NO SPOON: THE MATRIX which finds them lampooning, you guessed it, The Matrix. The cast is compiled of some of the usual rejects of "The Usual Rejects" and some rookie faces. It also marked the last show featuring Kyle Kirkpatrick because he's moving to LA and becoming a foot fetish model (editor’s note: That may not be the exact reason he's moving to LA. To be honest, this was a drinking show and I had a lot of drinks). The rest of the cast included Deven Anderson (who created all of the amazing props), Stacy Ayn Price, Kirk Gostkowski, David Rey, Evan Bass and Matthew Bogorad.

Deven Andrerson takes on the lead role of Neo, Stacy Ayn Price is a leather clad Trinity, and David Rey is a Spanish version of Morpheus. The rest of the cast round up all the rest of the characters, with Kirk Gostkowski also doing the narration. To be frank, I've seen a lot of these, and they never get old. But I do believe this one was the best one yet (Betcha feel foolish for missing it now, don't you?). The props and "special effects" were hilarious and creative (giant 90's cell phones, two actors clad in black helping with the fight scenes, tiny short legs doing all the kicking, and a lot of Vaseline (you've seen the movie now so you know what I mean). The delivery veers from deadpan to overacting to just ridiculously funny. Everyone is clearly having a great time, including the audience. Beers are always cheap and no matter who the cast is, you will have a blast. As an extra bonus, there's a not so silent auction at the beginning and whoever wins the auction gets to play "God," stopping the show three times and force whoever they want in the cast to stop what they're doing and chug a whole beer. It's the one time you can be a prick in public and everyone will give you a high five. Their next show has yet to be announced but do yourself a favor: join their mailing list, check their website & their Facebook and get your ass to their next show. You can thank me later. At the show. Because I'll be there.

So, in conclusion, did I have a great time? Hey, I won a trivia question and won a FREE Rick & Morty toy. So... yeah. I have a pretty damn good time.

GRADE: A

Created by The Usual Rejects Starring  Deven Anderson, Kyle Kirkpatrick, Stacey Ayn Price, Kirk Gostkowski, David Rey, Evan Bass and Matthew Bogorad Played at The Wythe Hotel, 80 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn NY. For more info on "The Usual Rejects" upcoming shows visit: http://www.usualrejects.com/

TAKE MY BREATH AWAY // A REVIEW OF "THE USUAL REJECTS: TOP GUN"

BY MATEO MORENO

Each month, in a small Long Island City theatre named "The Chain," a New York based comedy group showcases their love of movies and, more importantly, their love of making fun of movies, and brings it to you. They present a staged reading, complete with costumes and props, of a different movie each month. There are prizes. There is trivia. Audience participation. Cheap Beers. And drinking games for both you and the crew on stage. It's like a college party without all the dickheads. "The Usual Rejects" are comprised of many, but each month they pick five members and between the five they read every role in the film (along with help from selected audience members). Recently, they took on such cinema treasures as Terminator 2 Judgement Day, Die Hard with a Vengeance, Jurassic Park, Speed, and everyone's favorite Patrick Swayze flick Road House. Mixing ridiculousness with cleverness, they have the sold out audiences in stitches with chaotic line readings, hilarious props, and lots of drinking. This month's pick held up to their previous success with the Bro-tastic TAKE MY BREATH AWAY: TOP GUN.

Performing this go around was Kyle Kirkpatrick playing our "Dangerous" hero Maverick, aka Tom Cruise. Then there's Deven Anderson taking up Val Kilmer’s Iceman, Sean Curry as Slider, David Rey as Viper (Tom Skerritt), Lenny Thomas as Jester/Sundown, Stacey Price as the girl who's not Meg Ryan (she's Kelly McGillis, aka Charlie) and Kirk Gostkowski as Dr. Mark Greene... I mean Goose, originally played by Anthony Edwards. One very funny added bonus is before the show begins, an auction is held to who in the audience would like to play "God." Whoever makes the highest bid gets five chances throughout the course of the evening to command one actor on stage to chug a beer, no matter what (one actor this month had to chug a beer while being held up in the air). It's silly, ridiculous fun, and the cast is 100% on point. Standouts are different each month and taking the cake this go around are Deven Anderson's spot on Val Kilmer (shout out to his frosted tips), Stacey Price's hilariously lifeless line delivery of Kelly McGillis's lifeless line delivery and Kyle Kirkpatrick's "dangerous" Maverick. I don't want to spoil too many jokes in this month's entry because, unlike previous months, you still have a chance to see them perform Top Gun on Sat Aug 29th. Do yourself a favor and get out to "The Chain," bring a friend and have some ridiculous fun. Each ticket comes with two beers and additional beers are only $4.00. There's no other comic troupe in NY doing what they do, and that a rare thing to say in this city. Buy your tickets early though, as they tend to sell out. You can thank me later.

MATEO'S GRADE: A

Created by: The Usual Rejects Starring (this month): Deven Anderson, Sean Curry, Kyle Kirkpatrick, Stacey Price, David Rey, Lenny Thomas and Kirk Gostkowski. For Tickets to TAKE MY BREATH AWAY: TOP GUN on Saturday August 29th: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe.c/10028904 For future show and More Information: https://www.facebook.com/UsualRejects/

MATEO MORENO recently won a bet on who could hold their breath the longest underwater. He won the bet, having beat local loudmouth Jimmy "Thunderbird" Thomas with a record breaking "fourteen minutes." True, part of that time was him unconscious and the other part was him being revived, but he still counts it, and is now $20 richer. Take THAT Thunderbird! He currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.