Last night, I had the pleasure of watching Mike Birbiglia's solo show "My Girlfriend's Boyfriend" at the Carnegie Hall. I was so excited.. I didn't know what to expect. I first knew of Mike at The Barrow Group Theatre (TBG) some time in October 2012. His picture, the classic picture of him in pajamas and holding onto a teddy bear, is hung in the lobby. I asked my classmate, "who is that dude?" And then I found out his name is Mike Birbiglia, and he did an indie film called SLEEPWALK WITH ME. I then proceeded to wiki him and found out he was also a comedian. Whao!--I thought. I told myself I would definitely check out his film while it plays at IFC, but you know when you say I'll definitely check it out, and you never do? Yeah, I'm soooo guilty of that.
Fast forward seven months later, he returns to TBG for a seminar with Seth Barrish; and I told myself, I'll definitely check it out. But guess what? I can't, because I will be in LA during that time. Two weeks later, I found out he will perform at Carnegie Hall, and I jumped up and said, I'll definitely check it out--and I did!
Okay--now back to the show: the show was freakishly amazing. This is my first time at Carnegie Hall, and my first time watching a solo show (without falling asleep!!!). I have a tendency of falling asleep during theatre performances, and this show kept me awake, all 1 hour and 37 minutes of it. First, we had Ira Glass preface the show with a story about a dance company finding luck in the mega million lottery game + two ballet dancers glancing across the stage with a solid number. It was so priceless with Mr. Glass himself starts dancing after he reveals that the dance company did not win the lottery. They gracefully introduced Mike. Mike came out with an untucked button-down shirt, faded jeans, and a pair of white sneaks. Immediately, we all knew the show was gonna be super chill. And then he said something along the lines of, "I can't believe this is happening here," and i thought me too, me too! Carnegie Hall is traditionally know as a venue for orchestra performances or something super formal, so I was pretty shocked it was held there. But our attention was immediately drawn then to his parents who came to support the show. I had tears in my eyes at that point. But then he told the story of how his mother sold him her car for $2,000 when he first started out because she didn't see anything of it. At that point, I just nodded in agreement. He also told us a story about how we should turn off our cell phones because a lady at another show had her cell phone go off and didn't know how to turn it off--gahhh distraction, that's a performer's worst nightmare (but then if you're awesome, you'll know how to play it off). Then, the show finally began. He told the story about not believing in marriage, his t-bone car accident, his teenage dating experiences, not being a part of the make-out club but finally getting into it after lying to his friends but finds out he's a really bad kisser from Sandy-the-brace-face, and then finding love with Jenny, disbelieving in marriage .. still, but then still getting married, and still paying $12,000 for that t-bone car accident in which he was hit by a Benz. What a show!!! I sat on the edge of my seat the whole time. I let out a few LOLs, but at times, I laughed awkwardly because some things were just too true to be true. I can honestly say I had a grand old time.
It was such an amazing experience to watch a performer work the whole stage. No props, no nothing. Just themselves, the story, the lights, and a stool. I am definitely blown away by the story and his delivery. If only I can someday do the same. Still dreaming...
