The Rescignos
Merry Christmas to Paul and to Paul a Good Night (featuring Robbie)
The Duplex, NYC, December 8, 2018
Reviewed by Chris Struck for Cabaret Scenes
The Rescigno’s 10th annual shout-out to Christmas at The Duplex stands out as clever and well-orchestrated, balancing comedic interludes, witty banter, and hilarious original parody songs about Christmas. The twin duo brings back an incredible cast and features skits from years past as they celebrated getting an audience to laugh at their “vanilla versus flavor” jokes. Robbie provides the vanilla and Paul provides the flavor. For example, Paul entered dressed as a 30+ point, illuminated star that couldn’t fit between the tables. He proceeded then to tell a number of punny jokes (including, “How can you possibly top a Christmas Tree?”) until Robbie had had enough. On the other hand, Robbie introduces songs, performers, and slides in a joke or two under the radar. Through it all, we learned the meaning of Christmas when the colorful Paul realizes he needs the consistent Robbie.
In one of the best new moments of the show, the twins found their “Christmas Twin” in a musical spoof of Hallmark Channel Christmas movies called “The Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas Presents: A Christmas Twin for Christmas” (Mike Hadge). In this tale of twin-discovery, Robbie travels to the small town of Christmas, Delaware to tear down the Christmas Center for Mr. Boss at Business Co.—that is until he finds his twin, who teaches him the meaning of Christmas and he changes to save the town.
As hilarious as that was, the pair had some tried and true stories to match the new additions to the holiday theme. One of the best of these new moments was provided by John Anderson, who provided “official” commercial breaks. Introduced as the voice of Christmas, he announced parody sponsors in ad breaks between songs and during costume changes. His timing and subtlety were on point as he described “Grandma’s Figgy Pudding,” a product to disperse annoying carolers who “won’t go until we get some.” He also introduced other holiday favorites, including expensive garbage in which to wrap one’s presents.
The best song moment of this Christmas-filled show was Wesley Zurick’s “Barry the Bad Elf,” which he performed. After a “commercial break,” the entire cast came out on the stage and realized something was missing. It turned out to be the “o” in the Rescignos sign, which Barry had failed to put up in a timely manner. Robbie decides that Barry has to be let go from the show, prompting a fun song and dance number in which Zurick breaks out after pleading for mercy with the line, “I’m a Bad Elf with bad, bad habits.” This was just narrowly better than Marissa McGowan’s singing of “White Christmas” (Irving Berlin) accompanied by the cast as my favorite song of the night. The show was overall was an exceptional job by the entire cast, which also included Stephen James Anthony, Aimee Cucchiaro, Peter Dagger, Jason Shelton, Caitlin Thurnauer, and Rebecca Weiner. Hadge also co-wrote the show with the Rescignos. Music direction/piano was by Adam Podd.
