THE HANGOVER REPORT – Alison S.M. Kobayashi’s obsessive SAY SOMETHING BUNNY! is pure genius

Alison S.M. Kobayashi's "Say Something Bunny!" at UNDO Project Space.

Alison S.M. Kobayashi’s “Say Something Bunny!” at UNDO Project Space.

This weekend, I caught Alison S.M. Kobayashi’s ingenious, uniquely immersive solo show Say Something Bunny! at UNDO Project Space in Chelsea. Meticulously researched and lovingly performed by Ms. Kobayashi, the show attempts to reconstruct a portrait of a New York-based Jewish family by obsessively dissecting nearly-indecipherable audio recordings of various family gatherings that took place over the course of the 1950s.

I had resisted seeing the show (it’s been running since early summer) partly because of its length. At two-and-a-half hours, Say Something Bunny! had the potential to be a long sit, especially for a solo performance. However, in the hands of Ms. Kobayashi, who also directs, the piece is pure genius, unfurling with the the utmost grace, wit, and intelligence (I loved the show’s endless parade of visual and audio gags!). Indeed, the performance I attended exuded whimsical good humor and was a joy to partake in.

Technically and aesthetically, the show is a marvel. The amount of detail that went into creating this out-of-the-box experience is nothing short of astonishing. The number of cues in the show alone could easily run a number of Off-Broadway productions. All in all, I was utterly captivated by Say Something Bunny!; I have a feeling the experience will be one of the highlights of my year of theatergoing. I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it. Don’t miss it.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

 

SAY SOMETHING BUNNY!
Off-Broadway, Play
UNDO Project Space
2 hours, 30 minutes (with one intermission)
Extended (again) through January 28

 

Categories: Off-Broadway, Theater

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