Writer/actor Sarah King's "Good Crazy/Bad Crazy" plays like a wittier, more-focused episode of "Saturday Night Live." High praise if SNL was even a shadow of its former self, but still a flattering comparison.
Although "Good Crazy/Bad Crazy" loosely tracks the effects of King's decision to donate eggs to her sister, there's something more universal going on in this one-woman show. Yet King, although a brilliant young comedienne, doesn't have a firm handle on what exactly she wants to say. She interviews her parents, a Southern couple who both embody and defy stereotype. She performs several pieces as a misguided performance artist, evoking Agnus from Jane Wagner's "Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe." She sings a hilarious song about cheese ("I eat cheese like popcorn. Jealous?"). Each sketch succeeds as a stand-alone bit, but taken together, they result in a show that dashes madly in 10 different directions—each worth exploring, but not in the same piece. As a result, the show, although reliably funny, is thematically uneven and finally unsatisfying.
Fortunately, her unique talent elevates her material. With a charismatic, Ellen DeGeneres-esque presence, King is a rock star when it comes to improv. Impeccable comedic timing and an enticing speaking voice add to the dynamic package. Although her skill and commitment smooth the show's patchy veneer, they also disquiet; it's both stirring and frustrating to be in the presence of a talent who has yet to find her way.
At this point in its development, "Good Crazy/Bad Crazy" seems like a solid first workshop rather than a fully realized one-woman show. But, if she pushes herself to hone her writing and fine-tune her voice, King will be unstoppable.
Reviewed by Centerstage!