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January 19, 2005

spend the night, watch the earth come up

Backstage West has a review of ACME Love Machine!

Acme Love Machine
Reviewed By Jenelle Riley
BACKSTAGE WEST
JAN. 19, 2005

Acme Love Machine
presented by and at the Acme Comedy Theatre, 135 N. La Brea Ave., L.A. Fri. 8 pm through Jan. 28, Sat. 8 pm through Feb. 26. $15. (323) 525-0202.

When watching sketch comedy, most of us inevitably finds ourselves hoping the percentages work in our favor. In other words, there's probably bound to be a few groaners, but we hope there will be more good than bad. In the Acme Comedy Theatre's latest offering, it's a pleasant surprise to say the good far outweighs the bad. There's a tendency for a few strong segments to run a little too long, and we can count on standard sketch fallbacks--funny voices, some easy bathroom humor--but overall this production packs triple the laughs of a typical episode of Saturday Night Live in roughly the same amount of time.

Director Travis Oates confidently helms a flawless ensemble of eight talented and distinctive actors in sketches that run the gamut of humor both high- and low-brow. It's hard to miss with a great physical bit about three football fans (Kevin Small, Chris MacKenzie, and Greg Benson) shaking their groove with goofy choreography to hit songs, or the sight of a underwear inspector (MacKenzie) personally testing his product, but these bits are balanced with several moments of clever wordplay. In "Your Witness," an undeservedly confident attorney (Matt Knudsen) is prone to spewing hilarious misinformation. And in the witty "Word Up," the stellar Wil Wheaton plays a slow-witted suitor who manages to seduce a crisp and efficient accountant (Kimberly Lewis) with sweet talk provided by a thesaurus. Still, it's the nonverbal "Untitled Office Sketch #9"--in which the most mundane activities turn into a beautifully staged musical number--that achieves a sublime absurdity.

It's also worth mentioning the trio of female actors (Lewis, Kim Evey, and Jodi Miller) who prove that women don't have to be relegated to the background in comedy. Although the cast is uniformly excellent, standouts include MacKenzie and Small, who can garner huge laughs with the simplest delivery or expression. Lighting and sound by Mike Cernicky are outstanding, with a production value far higher than any sketch show I've seen. And musical director Jonathan Green and drummer Christian Malmin keep the energy high with live musical accompaniment.

Posted by wil at January 19, 2005 09:03 PM

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» Love Machine from misscode
Last night I saw ACME Comedy Theatre's ACME Love Machine, and I second the review that Wil Wheaton posted on his blog. [Read More]

Tracked on January 23, 2005 11:27 AM

Comments

Come to San Francisco with the show...I'll help make it happen. I can arrange to put some folks up and get a theater. Just say yes.

Posted by: Alan Graham at January 19, 2005 09:30 PM

Wil playing someone slow-witted. Now that must entail an amazing amount of theatrical craftsmanship! ;-)

I just started taking a class in "Scene and Improv" held through our local Parks and Rec. It's taught by a guy who runs the local Children's Theater (which involves adults as well as children -- they give impressive productions).

My mom used to call me Sarah Heartburn. So I guess I had some inclination in this direction from a young age.

In class, we've been concentrating on non-verbal improv. Ya know what? It looks easy but it's HARD. Try communicating a scene saying only the alphabet. Be convincing. Damn.

But it's the highlight of my week. It's a 2-hour class and the time just flies...

I hope they offer more classes. So far, this is the only one for adults, waaaah.

Who knows, maybe one day I'll be able to do something with it....and satisfy my inner ham....

Posted by: Lynn at January 19, 2005 10:15 PM

Come to San Francisco with the show...I'll help make it happen. I can arrange to put some folks up and get a theater. Just say yes.

Posted by: Alan Graham at January 19, 2005 10:21 PM

Wil playing someone slow-witted. Now that must entail an amazing amount of theatrical craftsmanship! ;-)

My mom used to call me Sarah Heartburn. So I guess I had some inclination in this direction from a young age.

In class, we've been concentrating on non-verbal improv. Ya know what? It looks easy but it's HARD. Try communicating a scene saying only the alphabet. Be convincing. Damn.

But it's the highlight of my week. It's a 2-hour class and the time just flies...

I hope they offer more classes. So far, this is the only one for adults, waaaah.

Who knows, maybe one day I'll be able to do something with it....and satisfy my inner ham....

Posted by: Lynn at January 19, 2005 10:24 PM

"the stellar Wil Wheaton"

Absolutely dude... you RAWK!!!

Posted by: edwoodca at January 19, 2005 10:39 PM

STELLAR! That's my boy. Yes, the stars are shinning on you.
Congratulations
Love, Mom

Posted by: Debbie Wheaton at January 19, 2005 10:40 PM

oops... sorry, Mrs. Wheaton... had I known... I would've changed my comment to not steal your thunder. [as if I could... you ARE his Mom!!! Your proud comments and love mean infinitely more to him than my mere words. Rightly so.]

Posted by: edwoodca at January 19, 2005 10:51 PM

If I ever get the chance to come to LA, or an ACME show comes near me (Spokane, WA), I'll go to one. Until then, I'll have to live vicariously through the other readers at WWDN.

Oh, and Wil, you were an answer in my college newspaper's crossword puzzle last week. Sadly, the hint was "Actor Wheaton" and not "Author Wheaton." (I bought JAG last week and ended up staying up until like 7 am reading the thing instead of sleeping.)

Dave

Posted by: Dave at January 19, 2005 10:57 PM

congrats! Good Job Wil!

Posted by: Bryan K at January 19, 2005 11:04 PM

KIM EVEY?! Is this the same Kim Evey who was on KING 5's wonderfully hilarious and much-missed show, "Almost Live!"? (IMDB doesn't list a Kim Evey on there, but I know a Kim Evey was!) If it's the same person, tell her that she was awesome on that show.

Congrats on the review, Wil. :o)

Posted by: Reena at January 19, 2005 11:22 PM

overall this production packs triple the laughs of a typical episode of Saturday Night Live in roughly the same amount of time.

Take that, NBC!

Kudos to the team for earning this review. And hey, the stellar Wil Wheaton? Can't beat that. Well, you can, but who wants to? Stellar ain't bad at all...

Posted by: Eric in PA at January 20, 2005 02:11 AM

Was stellar supposed to be a clever pun? Because no puns are clever. Anyhoo- Congratulations, Wil, you definitely deserve this recognition. It's awesome that it's finally coming for your comedy/improv work, which you seem to enjoy as much as writing. Hopefully it's a sign that people are finally starting to see the whole picture of what you're about rather than the narrow definition they've stuck you with for all these years.

Posted by: meagan at January 20, 2005 03:46 AM

How awesome is it that you were referred to as "stellar"??

Of course, we already knew that.

Bring the show to New York, Wil! You and your cast can crash at my house! I have a pull-out couch! C'mon!

Posted by: Rachel at January 20, 2005 04:42 AM

It's a lovely review. These things must be nerve racking to read ocassionally. I knew you were great, didn't need some critic to tell me. : )

Posted by: Madie at January 20, 2005 05:27 AM

Congrads Wil!

I hope to get to see the show someday. You are "Stellar" and ytour talent cannnot be denied so it is great that others can see this too. :)

Oh, one last thing, it is so cute that your Mom comes here to read your blog and compliment you. :) "Hi Mrs. Wheaton!"

Posted by: Quincey at January 20, 2005 05:48 AM

WOOHOOOOOOOOO! Rock ON Wil! Y'all derserve every good review- the Love Machine is a rockin'! (and I'm glad they gave the music props too-because they do a great job as well...) and I LOVE that they dug the Office Skit-it is so hysterical!

Posted by: Wendy Maybury at January 20, 2005 06:08 AM

I don't know where else to post and I wouldn't even know how to start encrypting an email. I just wanted to say that I've just finished reading 'Just a Geek', which I started about 3.5 hours ago. It was compulsive, and I wouldn't really call myself a ST fan. You are an amazing human being. Thank you.

Posted by: Abbie at January 20, 2005 06:13 AM

CONGRATS WIL! Keep it up!

Posted by: Eric in NJ at January 20, 2005 06:16 AM

I don't think I already commented on Just a Geek yet but Abbie, above, just inspired me to.

I couldn't put the book down. It was great! Good job on that too Wil!

Posted by: Eric in NJ .. again at January 20, 2005 06:18 AM

Hey Wil, y'all should consider consistently releasing all this sketch stuff online in video form. It's been eons since any good sketch comedy was widely available and the networks aren't going to deliver any time soon.

Think of it, the new media....Asynchronous, baby! When podcasting moves to a video form, you folks would be poised to reach a huge audience by leveraging the synergies of your existing enterprise level legacy audience (I almost said "next generation" audience).

Do you realize that Star Trek has two 'net buzzwords associated with it? "enterprise" and "next generation". Interesting. I'm easily distractable. Oh look, pigeons!

Think of it, Strongbad did it without newspapers. You guys could do it without a network.

Posted by: Mike Shaw at January 20, 2005 07:29 AM

The review was totally on the money. My sides were sore the next day from laughing so much! Congrats on the well-deserved kudos, Wil!

Posted by: Amanda at January 20, 2005 07:45 AM

\mm/

^
|

Too much rock for one hand.

@set you="da man"

Posted by: joemorf at January 20, 2005 08:09 AM

stellar

Posted by: Jessie at January 20, 2005 08:51 AM

its my birthday today!!! im 21!!! off to work.

Posted by: Jessie at January 20, 2005 08:52 AM

I saw the show last Saturday night and can second Backstage West's rave — the show's a superhoot and the review is dead-on correct... though the showstopper for me is Will as a waiter in the Latvian lover sketch deadpanning with "I used to be on Star Trek." Brilliant!!

Posted by: Will Campbell at January 20, 2005 08:56 AM

Congratulations, "stellar Wil Wheaton!" That is so kickass! Wish I was in LA so I could support you in person...and maybe pee myself laughing, judging from that review.

Posted by: Abby at January 20, 2005 09:03 AM

I wish I could come see this show :(
darn Chicago for being so far away.
blasted geogrophy!

That was a wonderful review, I love sketch comedy.

Posted by: Jennifer at January 20, 2005 09:32 AM

So...it's going on tour right? To Canada? Like, Saskatoon? It's flat here, people will be able to see it for MILES...

(of course it's bloody cold right now, but that shouldn't deter an amazing crew like Acme...right?)

Posted by: Dan at January 20, 2005 10:12 AM

Congrats on the very nice review! I'm glad to hear that Chris Mackenzie is still working with the group, as I thought he was terrific on the Cruise Trek in 2002. Tell him I said hello and keep up the good work.

The show runs through March, is that right? I may have to see if I can find an excuse to get out there before it closes and see it.

Posted by: Dave Westbay at January 20, 2005 10:32 AM

Woot! Glad yer doin' so well. My wife and I want to come down and see the show, but if you came up to the bay area, that would be rockin!

Posted by: Grimicus at January 20, 2005 10:52 AM

Dude. I am so making the drive out there next weekend from Phoenix. Brandi and I will be there on the 29th.

Posted by: amanda at January 20, 2005 11:29 AM

triple the laughs of SNL? Hm, so that brings it to about 3 half-chuckles...seriously though, awesome review! Wish I could see the show...

Posted by: R at January 20, 2005 11:52 AM

Hey, I wish I could go to your show, but I recently moved to Michigan for school. An engineering school, to be exact. So, I have computer geniuses around me 24/7, so that's fun.

Talking about MacWorld from a few posts ago, my first computer was the Macintosh LC II. It was great, no one could get me off of it.

No wonder I never had another computer in my room.

Posted by: Ruth at January 20, 2005 11:54 AM

Thanks for coming to SF -- the Union Square book signing was great! Now, bring the rest of the troupe up here!

Run! Now! Hurry!

Oh, okay, I suppose we can let you finish out the run down south first. But I'm telling you, you've got a ready audience up here...

Posted by: Glen Raphael at January 20, 2005 02:52 PM

Error?

Posted by: griff at January 24, 2005 05:10 AM