After Work Special

Drink At Work Presents..., Siberia (356 W 40th St), 8:00PM
Host: Carol Hartsell
DJ: Craig Baldo
Rob Paravonian
Frencesco Marciuliano
Bryan Olsen
Todd Levin*
Carol Hartsell
9/11 Man (Gabe McKinley)
Mike Birbiglia
Tom Shillue*
Brandy & Sarah
Sean Crespo with Gabe McKinley

* Unscheduled surprise set

Thanks to Maryanne for giving me the tip on this show. A buncha comics I had never seen before and Mike Birbiglia, at a cool venue just a Bruce Jenner javelin toss from Times Square? And it's FREE? And it doesn't cost anything? You bet I'll be there! And there's no cover?

There’s a great little website accessible by most computers that is run by a group of funny New Yorkers who like to drink at work. It’s called Drink at Work.com, and every so often they produce a comedy show featuring their favorite comedians and content contributors. I found the venue, Siberia, recognizable from the outside only by a red light above the door, and sheepishly walked downstairs to the bar/performance space almost a half hour past the posted start time of 8:00PM. But luckily for me, host Carol Harstell was just getting the show underway as I took my seet on a slumpy couch towards the back. Ironically first person I saw as soon as my eyes adjusted to the dark basement was Todd Levin, the person indirectly responsible for my tardy arrival (I had left the house late because I spent too much time carefully choosing my words in a reply to a MySpace message from Todd). It was the first time I had seen him since first bumping into him on the street, and it was a small thrill just to shake his hand again and be recognized by the man (it's not as if I'll ever go skydiving; I take my thrills as they come).

Rob Paravonian opened the show with funny songs. Francesco Marciuliano followed with a waggish lampooning of Pat Robertson, and I sound so British when I say that aloud in my head... with a British accent. Improv actor Bryan Olsen tried something next that was sooooo alternative that I nearly got up and left to go buy a Good Charlotte CD and get my left nipple pierced. He invited the audience to participate as the jury in the trial of a bigoted science teacher accused of telling his students that the Jews own a machine that controls the weather, while Mr. Olsen performed a monologue as the conservative Southern defense lawyer in his best William Jennings Bryan parody (with a touch of Senator Tankerbell).

Todd Levin made an unscheduled appearance on stage as a favor to the hosts who needed to stall while some comics were arriving late. He began by saying, "I've retired from doing stand-up, so I apologize if I'm a little rusty." Gosh I hope that's not true [Ed: It was confirmed by Todd Levin himself that this statement was, indeed, a joke]. Todd reprised his Premium Blend opener ("Tone it down, Moses") and then divulged his sexual neuroses, which culminated in his suggestions for increasing the positivity of porno films. His first recommendation - end every porno with a wedding. His second, and the funniest line of the night, "Just before the money shot, the girl should say to the guy, 'You can cum anywhere,' and then turn to the camera and add, 'just don't get any on my Nobel Prize.'"

Carol Hartsell presented her "Quick Moment with Carol" before being interrupted by 9/11 Man (Gabe McKinley) who doesn't take kindly alternative comedy's flippant 9/11 jokes. Wearing a sleeveless FDNY shirt and an eagle-embroidered baseball cap, 9/11 man stormed around the room in a double-edged satire of ultra-patriotism and hipster irreverance, or at least, I think that's what Gabe was going for. The irony of it all!

Mike Birbiglia repeated the story of his charity golf gig gone wrong, and impressed me once again with his knack for dry storytelling. His biggest laughs followed the tried and true moving day/rapist/"You'd be surprised!" joke, which he delivered perfectly. It was cool seeing Birbigs at this dive bar after seeing him at places like the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore and the Hudson Theatre in New York. I wanted to introduced myself after the show, but he left quickly after his set.

Tom Shillue was another guy not scheduled to appear on the show tonight, but came through with a hilarious guest set. The man can express so much with his eyes alone... and when Irish eyes are smiling, WATCH OUT! I have a t-shirt that says that.

Sean Crespo wrapped up the show with a fun set that included a slideshow called "Haunted or Molested?" and an appearance by NY Times Crossword editor Will Shortz, masterfully played by Gabe McKinley, who had Sean guess various words in their conversation. Example, "I'm just feeling so... nine-letter word, meaning 'lowered in spirits, dejected'..." Really creative, funny shtuff.

I used up my first $20 Metrocard of the summer on the way to the show tonight. To offset my comedy costs, I guess I'm going to have to cut down on ziti pizza.