Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre
We have affordable, high quality shows seven nights a week in NYC and LA. Our original comedy videos have garnered the national spotlight. We also run the first nationally accredited improv and sketch comedy school in the country. For information on our courses visit the Training Center.
Time Out New York Gives UCBT's The Paul Downs Syndrome Four Stars
ComedyThe character actor scores with this showcase.
By Jane Borden
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre By Paul W. Downs. Dir. Lucia Aniello. With Downs. 30mins.
FUNNY DISPOSITION Downs channels optimism.
If a sketch or solo show doesn’t have a point—a through line, an overarching thesis, a story to tell—then it had better be funny. The Paul Downs Syndrome, playing Wednesday 11 and Wednesday 18 at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, is very funny indeed.
Paul W. Downs made a name for himself starring in Internet shorts created with his comedy partner, Lucia Aniello (who directs Syndrome), including their most recent, a music video for a fictional Turkish pop star named Tudu. The singer, played by a buff and spray-tanned Downs, is equal parts machismo and sentimentality. He is as fond of animal-print thongs as he is of openly crying, and he makes an appearance in Syndrome, Downs’s first live showcase, which will leave you wanting more.
An exploited child actor tries to remain enthusiastic in the midst of a breakdown. A haggard cop has a special skill for extracting eyewitness accounts from babies. Most of his sketches are character-based, but not all of them: The show breathes and shines in absurd vignettes, such as an existential debate involving Murphy Brown and a video series featuring celebrity cameos (we won’t spoil who) that provide more than just a wow factor.
Every bit in Syndrome possesses a manic energy. The characters, though frequently misguided, share an unflagging spirit: Following a severe dental accident, a Starbucks employee still wants to help; a vaguely Slavic and terrifyingly upbeat MTV Europe VJ screams meaningless platitudes, such as “This could be your yes it can!†Nothing will stop them from succeeding. The same could be said for Downs.
See The Paul Downs Syndrome on Wednesday, August 11th and 18th at the UCB Theatre. Click here to make reservations.