Fat, Bald and Loud
Sweet on the Grassmarket
To which one might add inventive, versatile and funny.
American Craig Ricci Shaynak proves equally adept at character comedy, observation and improvisation in this unassuming but winning hour. Appearing first in the guise of a security guard outside his venue, he puts each audience member through a separate and equally funny security check. Finally allowed into the room, we get a half-hour of fresh takes on such familiar subjects as family life and school embarrassments. The fact that his parents were both chain smokers gets a running gag of its own, with the poor-me quality of such reminiscences never tipping over into bathos. For the last twenty minutes of his act Shaynak brings out the Giant Wheel of Accents, takes on some improvisation suggestions and delivers them in the voice the spinning wheel dictates. It's a clever way of demonstrating his comic versatility and builds to a satisfying climax when his final improv runs through every accent on the wheel. There's nothing cutting-edge about Shaynak's material - indeed, an American comic of fifty years ago could have done virtually the same act. But he does it well, and he is funny. Gerald Berkowitz, THE STAGE |
FAT, BALD AND LOUD
Sierra Stages, Hollywood
Warning: You may be searched at the door of Craig Ricci Shaynak’s evening of standup, particularly if you’re female. Acting as "security," ticket-taker, light and sound op, as well as host, Shaynak skillfully preps the audience to insure participation before self-effacing, fledgling standup Dirk Voetberg opens the evening. (Program notes seem to suggest that opening comics will vary weekly.) Voetberg refers often to his cue card and clumsily segues between dead-end stories and cryptic non sequiturs, but his bumbling has a certain charm and some of his material, including his impression of Jesus Christ and being starstruck by Kenny G., is very funny. As a performer Shaynak is much more assured, though he, too, relies on amusing anecdotes from everyday life to entertain. In fact, there is a refreshing lack of cynicism and combativeness in both comics’ material, with Shaynak’s strength as a humorist revealed instead through his broad range of impersonations and dialects, a display of which makes for his impressive finale. Amy Schaumburg, LA WEEKLY |
FAT, BALD & LOUD
Sweet on the Grassmarket
Russian hookers, medieval pimps, Japanese stand-ups, Chicago cops and Shakespearean advertising men; Craig Ricci Shaynak plays them all in this one man extravaganza featuring the Giant Wheel of Accentswhich transforms audience suggestions into improvisational reality.
Tony Soprano lookalike Craig Ricci Shaynak is, indeed, fat, bald and loud: an American actor/improviser who was last at the Fringe in a comedy troupe 16 years ago and who will return next year in a David Mamet play.
This show is a bit of a mish-mash of his three areas of interest: acting, improvising, comedy.
It is a good showcase of his acting skills: Japanese, children, Russian, black women and even a passable Glasgow gangster accent - all leading up to a would-be climactic 'wheel of fortune' section where he improvises subjects suggested by the audience in any of the 24 accents and styles written on the wheel.
He is a good actor, an entertaining improviser and an amiable comic performer, but the show lacks focus. It takes 16 minutes of Craig as a Security Man ushering the audience into the venue room before it even starts. Then we
have a section about his not-very-unusual upbringing and parents. But he is no raconteur, merely an actor with comedic experience.
And then there is a long section to showcase his improvisational skills. However, the whole raconteur/improv/acting showcase area is full to overflowing in Edinburgh during the Fringe and, frankly, Craig's considerable charm and considerable talent would be better concentrated on his acting.
It was an enjoyable comedy show, but it will never be an exceptional comedy show. Craig might well become a successful actor and maybe in years to come he will spit at me in the street for this review as he laughs all the way to the bank. John Fleming, CHORTLE.COM
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