OFF-BROADWAY REVIEW
SLEEPWALK WITH ME
Reviewed by Jenny Sandman
Published 2008-11-17
Mike Birbiglia is the kind of guy you would probably never notice in the subway or in a bar—quiet, unassuming, seemingly perfectly average—until he opens his mouth. He’s been a stand-up comedian for a long time, and recently began a campaign to introduce more personal material into his act (as chronicled in his blog, “Secret Public Journal”). What followed is Sleepwalk With Me, a hybrid of one-man play and stand-up routine, now playing at the Bleecker Street Theatre.
It’s an engaging and funny evening, chronicling Mike’s interpersonal relationships and his struggle with a weird REM disorder, which caused him not only to sleepwalk but to attempt superhuman feats in his sleep. At times you think the show has veered solidly into the world of stand-up, but he always manages to bring the material back to the central story line. Mike uses his affability well; he bonds almost immediately with the audience, and his aw-shucks-I’m-just-a-regular-guy persona keeps the material from becoming over-the-top. He’s a natural performer, and he seems very much at ease with telling his story.
Sleepwalk With Me is a perfect play for a first date—sweet, funny, unchallenging and ultimately charming.
Click here to buy group tickets.
