Sketchfest Review: Summer of Tears (LA) and All-American Push Up Party (Seattle)

This is the third time we've seen Dusty Warren's one-man show, All-American Push Up Party, and it's still funny as hell. The thing's a masterpiece. As our companion noted, "not a single joke falls flat." It's true.

Warren portrays seven characters in short monologues, including a bike cop who "needs your eyes right here," a doctor with some bad news about "your Jeff," a prison guard with coping tips.

The most incredible achievement is that, despite playing these characters for laughs in a five minute monologue, Warren makes them believeable. There's genuine compassion from the audience for the socially-awkward beekeeper, and the chronic bed-wetter.

Frankly, Warren's a comedy genius. And when he's making $40 million per movie, you're going to be kicking yourself for not having seen him when he still washed his own back.

So check it out--maybe the final performance in Seattle, since Warren's moving to L.A. soon--Saturday night at 10pm.

Summer of Tears were first. They are three guys and two girls from Los Angeles, who all met at USC. Most of their sketches had to do with sex, which is probably what I'd be thinking about all the time if I were an attractive actor living in L.A.

Sex can be funny (you should see how women laugh when we ask them to do it with us). But sketch after sketch about sex got a little oppressive. The best of Summer of Tears were those sketches that provided a respite from the sex fest, like a young cancer patient whose Dad wants to pick his Make-a-Wish foundation wishes, or the re-enactment of a particularly awful Bar Mitzvah entertainer.

There's real talent in this troupe--we especially like gravelly-voiced Will Greenberg, who'd seem to have a great career ahead of him playing blue-blooded assholes, and the versatile and skilled actors Rob Kerkovich and Kirstin Eggers. When they had good material, they were terrific.

Besides the aforementioned 10pm Saturday show, there's an 8pm one, featuring Becky & Noelle (New York), and KevINda (Chicago).