Mom Theatre Blogger: OLD HATS: Show Review by Robin Gorman Newman
Signature Theatre presents OLD HATS
Created and Performed by Bill Irwin and David Shiner
Music and Lyrics by and Featuring Shaina Taub
Directed by Tina Landau
Pictured: Bill Irwin, Shaina Taub and David Shiner
(Photo taken during the 2014 run of Old Hats at American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, CA)
In the midst of what is becoming a chilly, snowy winter in New York, there is a welcome ray of infectious laughter and escapism casting an entertaining and memorable spell. It’s called Old Hats, and it a true theatrical treat.
After an extended, sold-out run in 2013, Signature Theatre has welcomed back, and deservedly so, Bill Irwin and David Shiner in their award-winning, critically-acclaimed production of Old Hats. The production reunites them with original director Tina Landau and introduces a sassy, new, young partner, Shaina Taub, offering up her own signature musical brand of wit and storytelling,
A throwback to days of vaudeville, the seasoned Shriner and Irwin perform with a rare spoken word, but their actions speak volumes. Shriner, in particular, with his jello-like body movements, brings to mind Danny Kaye meets Dick Van Dyke meets mime-artist Marcel Marceau, all of whom I adore. Both he and Irwin are at the top of the game as physical comedians.
Broken down into a series of vignettes, the two hour show, with intermission, features at times hysterical, and at times poignant, bits, reflecting on an array of subjects including modern day technology, an encounter between strangers waiting for a train, a man down on his luck, and a server in an Italian restaurant wrestling with spaghetti.
Each performer has their individual moment to shine, yet they particularly excel when playing off each others antics.
Irwin is the master of facial expressions, and in a skit where he (Irwin in drag) and Shriner play a husband and wife magician team (she’s jealous of his flirting with audience members), it’s hard to imagine how they keep a straight (elastic) face working together. In fact, at the talkback after the show, Shriner shared their process of creating the material and how during rehearsals, they would crack each other up, but knew that the new skits had to ultimately translate in front of a live audience. They clearly chose their final material well, as there isn’t a dull moment in the show.
Another standout was when Taub, a rising star, sang The Visitors, written prior to the show and selected for inclusion. Not only are the lyrics wise and clever, but Taub plays the accordion as she croons. Backed by her lively and fun band, she also plays the piano, and is a strong and appealing songstress.
A real crowd-pleaser skit is Cowboy Cinema. Shriner skillfully chooses four able participants from the audience (He explained during the talkback how he has gotten good at picking the right type of people.), and they join him on stage as he prompts them to act out a gun-slinging scene from the Wild West. They play along so gamely you would almost think it was pre-arranged.
The design team for Old Hats includes G.W. Mercier (Scenic and Costume Design), Scott Zielinski (Lighting Design), John Gromada (Sound Design), Wendall K. Harrington (Projection Design), Mike Dobson (Foley Design). David H. Lurie is the Production Stage Manager. Dobson has the particularly challenging job of keeping up with the rapidfire succession of sound effects needed, and during the talkback, he shared how he sometimes misses a beat because the show is never exactly the same. All the more incentive to see it more than once! I plan to take my 12 year old.
Fun for the whole family, Old Hats is playing through April 3 at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues).
Visit www.SignatureTheatre.org.
