Kevin J Thornton stars in I Love You (We're F*#ked) Photo by Chris Wage

Kevin J. Thornton nimbly takes the stage at 4 in the afternoon for another performance of his one-man show, I Love You (We’re F*#ked). “It’s early in the day, isn’t it?” he asks. “I feel like I’ve just gotten up.” And looking at him, with a slight rawness around the eyes and a gracefully rumpled quality to his stage ensemble, you could quite believe it. But there’s nothing of the grouch, morning or otherwise, about Kevin. His speaking voice is low, calm, almost velvety; the sort of voice that could induce a tranquil confidence even as it asks you to ensure that your seat belt is fastened, your table tops are stowed, and your seats are in an upright position, as the captain will shortly be attempting a crash landing. Standby.

Kevin J. Thornton, ladies and gentlemen, is that rarest of the rare amongst stand-up comedian songsters. Kevin J. Thornton is seriously relaxed. That poise, that apparent ease of manner, will divest you of all your mundane frets and anxieties (not the least of which might be “is this going to be funny?”). You are in the metaphorical hands of a gifted masseur who knows very well how to de-stress those kinked little places, revisit old sites of tension, and tickle you in an intimate, respectful way.

This show has a nostalgic quality about it, mixed with a tale of heartbreak and disillusionment, as Kevin revisits his favorite era, the 80s (Ricky Schroeder and Silver Spoons; Prince and the Revolution; Duran Duran), reminisces, and recounts the details of the break-up of his last big relationship. The humor is knit into his delivery; there is no arduous stoking towards a punch line. With a guitar and a harmonica, his own penned songs punctuate the fluid, free associative, story telling. He is spontaneous and reactive, elastically able to step outside the act and throw you another peculiarity, then return to “the script” without adjusting the cruise control. Recalling my role as a reviewer, I felt myself straining to sense the proverbial pea of discontent in my theater seat, and remembering briefly some lines from another great 80s cultural instigator, Alan Parker’s “Fame”, and the mantra of the ballet tutor, I wanted to shout “the sweat, Kevin, where’s the sweat?”

When there is sweat, or something with a ragged edge in the act, it comes in the form of Kevin’s singing voice, which can extend to some pretty growly bass notes as he rings the emotion from his unquestionably resonant songs. The delivery is full-hearted and affecting, the spontaneous applause immediate and appreciative. “Thank you,” Kevin enjoins, “that is entirely the correct response.” It is the smooth-voiced airline steward speaking once more, and Thornton-service has been resumed.

Really, it’s almost impossible to taste any medicine with this artful spoonful of sugar.

Has Kev just got everyone too easily in the palm of his hand? “New York, it’s a tough crowd,” he shrugs, when a tale involving microphone fellatio simulation and stage stool anal penetration (convincing), while he lectures on the correct ethical standards regarding exploitation of youthful (for the record let’s say they’re nineteen) wide-eyed admirers, fails to elicit anything more than a heightened purring sound from his audience. “That one was pretty controversial in Tucson.” There’s a bit of a glide in everything he does. A comfortably out gay man, Kevin’s brand of humor is fresh and unassuming, not clubby and bitter. He’s got the hard knocks, the alcohol issues, the tattoos. But as familiar and all as these might be, he’s got a gentler, breezier take on things and, OMG! a little bit of heart about it all. Kevin could sell his grandmother that tale about ass-f*#king, he’s that clever, and that nice. He’s just precious.

Recommended.

~~~

FRIGID New York Festival 2011 will run February 23-March 6 at The Kraine Theater & The Red Room (85 East 4th Street between 2nd Ave and Bowery) and UNDER St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place between 1sr Ave and Ave A). Tickets ($10-$16) may be purchased online at www.FRIGIDnewyork.info or by calling Smarttix at 212-868-4444. All shows will run 60 minutes long or less.

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Welcome back to another installment of FRIGID New York Festival 2011 Q&A!  We’ll be running these throughout February until the Festival starts, so be sure to check back to read all about the great shows that will be taking part in the festival.  Also – don’t miss the winner-take-all game of Rock Paper Scissors! Today’s Q&A is with Kevin J Thornton, writer and performer of I Love You, (We’re F*#ked).

Kevin J Thornton has been featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and is the recent New Faces Winner at The Comedy Store in Hollywood. His hilarious new show is a wild mix of concert, stand up and storytelling.

Kevin J Thornton stars in I Love You (We're F*#ked) Photo by Chris Wage

answers by Kevin J Thornton -performer

Antonio Asks: What makes FRIGID such a warm and welcoming experience for your production?

I’ve been traveling around performing in fringe festivals and theatres for a couple of years. I’ve wanted to come to NYC for a long time and this seemed like the perfect opportunity!

Diánna Asks: What about this play do you feel most drawn to personally, and because of that, what message do you hope the audience walks away with?

I wrote this show from a very real and personal place. It takes a tale of lost love and spins it into a hilariously absurd odyssey. The hero knows he must move on but before he can must look back and ask “how the hell did I get here?” I do hope the audience leaves feeling inspired and believing in the power of love or something, but most importantly I hope they laugh their asses off.

Karen Asks: That’s some title.  How did you come up with it – and what does it mean?

While the show is largely a silly, stream of consciousness fantasy sort of thing– there is a theme of loving someone to your own detriment. Breakin’ up is hard to do. Stand by your man. Love hurts. Something like that…

Stephen Asks: You must have a favorite part of your show.  What makes it your favorite?

The songs are my favorite part. I feel like these might be the best songs I’ve ever written and audiences are going to walk away humming them.

Lina Asks: How much of your show was inspired by true events?

100% of it. But I’ve spun it all into something very heightened and fun. It’s a weird one man musical!

THM Bonus Question: If you could play a virtual game of Rock, Paper, Scissors with another FRIGID Show which show would you take on?  And what would you throw?

Well I’m from Nashville and not familiar with the other guys yet. So I’ll sit on the side with my guitar and a glass of wine and let the others duke it out. Wait, are we duking it out?!? *gulp*

Thanks I Love You (We’re F*#ked) – for participating in The Happiest Medium’s FRIGID New York Festival 2011 Q&A.  And for playing our game!  Since you decided to sit on the side, you’re (pardon the pun) officially F*#ked. This is how it works in the crazy world of the VIRTUAL ROCK PAPER SCISSORS TOURNAMENT!

Meanwhile, for the rest of you – don’t forget to check out I Love You (We’re F*#ked)

FRIGID New York Festival 2011 will run February 23-March 6 at The Kraine Theater & The Red Room (85 East 4th Street between 2nd Ave and Bowery) and UNDER St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place between 1sr Ave and Ave A). Tickets ($10-$16) may be purchased online at www.FRIGIDnewyork.info or by calling Smarttix at 212-868-4444. All shows will run 60 minutes long or less.

Related Posts:

• Women’s History Month: Celebrating Women In The Arts – Spotlight On Heidi Grumelot
• I Love You (We’re F*#ked) (FRIGID New York 2011)
• A Kind Kind Man, So He Says (FRIGID New York 2011)
• FRIGID New York Festival 2011 – Five Questions For: The Bitter Poet: Looking For Love In All The Wrong Black Box Performance Spaces
• Paradise Lost, Insight Found (FRIGID New York 2011)