Say 'OH, HELLO' to the Resuscitation of (Off) Broadway Theater

Brecht. Miller. Shepard. Faizon. St. Geegland.

December 9, 2015, 6:05pm

George St. Geegland (John Mulaney) and Gil Faizon (Nick Kroll) at yesterday's OH, HELLO press conference. In the background stands comedian Jeffrey Gurian and his "Gurian's Angels." Photos: Christian Frarey, unless otherwise noted.

Albee. Brecht. Miller. Shepard. Faizon. St. Geegland.

Let me say those last two again, because I want this page to be at the top of the Google when their play goes the way of their VD status: Viral.

Gil Faizon. George St. Geegland.

Charmed, I'm sure.

Many were heartbroken following Nick Kroll's end-of-2014 announcement that Season 3 of Kroll Show would be its last. Thankfully, after yesterday's press conference featuring two of its most beloved characters, Upper West Side bachelors Gil Faizon (played by Kroll) and George St. Geegland (John Mulaney), I can safely say the Oh my god this is too real- factor that made Kroll Show such a fan favorite lives on—off-Broadway. Running through December 20 at the Cherry Lane theater, OH, HELLO is a play that follows, ostensibly, the "Too Much Tuna" co-hosts and cohorts as they try to find a new apartment following the loss of their rent-controlled 3 bedroom ("with office") for $75/month.

Photo by the author

"We love being here at the Cherry Lane Theater, you know? People see us here, they think they’re going to see some experimental play, you know? Or you think you’re going to see a play about two siblings who just can’t wait to jump into bed together," says Faizon to around 20 reporters at yesterday's press conference. "—Or you think you’re going to see one of these one-man shows from some hipster comedian with a girl name like Zach," St. Geegland interjects.

"But that’s us, baby. Like, the type of people who go to Broadway shows. In our case, we go to the second half. We sneak in, and we bring our own sippy cup of Diet Coke, and then we see the second half of these shows!" Faizon finishes. It's as if they've spent decades together—which, in the case of these two characters, is completely true.

What follows for the next hour is a rapid-fire barrage of improvised Q+A, wildly dated references (at one point it is revealed that comedian Jeffrey Gurian, who introduced the press conference, was once actually the dentist of Curtis Sliwa), lots of uncomfortable staring, and blistering witticisms worthy of peak-Siskel and Ebert (if both had agreeable bouts with Toxoplasma gondii). You get the feeling that Kroll and Mulaney have found characters so good, they write their own material just by being in matching corduroy slacks. At one point, an audience member is invited on stage for what everybody already knows will already be—like the title of their "prahnk show" on WOLO—"Too Much Tuna," yet he accepts it anyway, much to the expected chagrin of the duo, and audience uproar.

"And also, uh, VICE Magazine—" Faizon suddenly calls out in my direction, pronouncing it "viss." "Have you moved from that seat once?" I say no. "Why don't you look under your seat. You might be surprised what you find." And I am: Nothing. Except for St. Geegland's two shriveled middle fingers pointed straight back at me when I look up again. "You just got 'reverse-Too Much Tuna'ed'" Faizon mic-drops, and it's exactly all I've ever wanted, because I'll be going back for the show later on this week.