Topic: My Salvation Has a First Name: A Wienermobile Journey

My Salvation Has a First Name: A Wienermobile Journey - 1:07PM on 9/06/2011

Show: My Salvation Has a First Name: A Wienermobile Journey

Buy Tickets Now: http://legacy.theatermania.com/chicago/shows/my-salvation-has-a-first-name-a-wienermobile-journey_184471/

RE:Self Deprecating Humor - 1:07PM on 9/06/2011

Robin does a good job of telling us her story. There are funny parts filled to the brim with puns about all things wiener. Most of this one woman show has the rhythm of just exactly what one would expect of a one person show. In a journey of self expression, I as audience, need to feel empathy, compassion or at least sympathy for the subject, however, I found the delivery of overly enthusiastic bits overwhelming and like I was being screamed at. “laugh at me, laugh at me, laugh at me! My empathy in these moments would have been for Gus, a character of which Robin inconsistently reenacts as the ‘Darth Vader drill sergeant’. I also found that her reenactments of her partner on her journey to be so one dimensional and cliché that it was hard for me to believe if a real friendship could possibly ever exist between them. When Robin gets serious about the things that really hurt her, being the ‘point’ of the whole piece, I found myself even less sympathetic with her because every time she would act these moments the delivery became akin to an afterschool special about bullying. If I’m going to attend a one person show, I want a real human story with real human characters so I can feel some sense of camaraderie with the performer instead of my only true empathy being one of “wow, that actress makes me feel tired from all her running around, what a difficult show”. Perhaps the show was over-rehearsed and over-performed? The story must be told fresh for every performance, as if it’s the first time you’ve told it, considering it’s the first time your audience has heard it. As an afterthought, I like to meet performers especially in a fringe festival setting after a show even if to just say “hi, funny show” or something like that. When I approached Robin she shortly and curtly responded “I’m really busy right now.” and walked away. This can have a profound effect on how an audience member may feel about a show, especially one portraying a person’s real life story. You talk to me audience for an hour, expecting us to love you, but in the moments after lights go out you treat me like trash, I wouldn’t run to tell all my friends to see your show.
-ZombieTheatreReview

My Salvation Has a First Name: A Wienermobile Journey Tickets and Information - 10:52AM on 9/12/2011

My husband and I loved this show and did find the characters believable - perhaps having kids this age helps - the only thing we were incredulous about was Robins audacity, quick wit, and ability to seize the moment. And - I ran into Robin several times in three days that we were there. Not only did she talk to me and give me a whistle, she remembered me from meeting to meeting. Another thing I personally was incredulous about given the many, many people she was interacting with. We did find it fresh, exciting, funny, and fun. I am a little amazed that Gus was patient after the "incident" - but good for him! Willing to nurture and mentor that guy. And I have seen "in real life" exactly the transformation that she and her partner went through - kids ARE one dimensional and egocentric at that age. Hope my kids get a chance to see it!