Review of the week: Seriously? Seriously. at Annoyance

Seth Dodson and Kellen Alexander in Seriously? Seriously.

Photo: courtesy of Seth Dodson

Jocks don't really talk in such a slow, stilted manner as comedians Kellen Alexander and Seth Dodson would have us believe during a scene featuring two pee-shy sports fans bantering at a urinal. Alexander and Dodson lay the ham on just thick enough that it tests the limits of character believabilty (although lines like, "When someone sees you pee, it's like a magician giving away his secrets," are precious regardless). But it doesn't matter because in Seriously? Seriously., their debut sketch show at the Annoyance Theatre, it's not the credibility of the characters we care about. It's marveling at the infectious chemistry between Alexander and Dodson, two comedians increasingly ready for their close-ups, that gives us a chuckle.

Alexander and Dodson make up two-thirds of the improvising trio 1, 2, 3...Fag!, collaborated on last year's drag queen musical sitcom Glitter in the Gutter (also at the Annoyance) and improvised a disintegrating relationship in Ted Tremper's award-winning Break-ups: The Series. Increasingly, a collaboration between Alexander and Dodson is a cause for celebration, if for nothing more than the simple pleasure of watching these two banter together.

In Seriously? Seriously. (made possible in part by the Chances Dances Critical Fierceness Grant), we get bucketloads of Dodson-Alexander collaborations thinly veiled as character studies. A scene between two hippie-dippy astrologists showcases the duo's dynamic synergy, while the pitter-patter of two high school girls at a party accents their shared love of camp. The writing is strong and the scenes are mostly funny (though certainly a few are hit-or-miss), but it all comes back to the crackly energy between the two.

As comedians go, Dodson has it easier. He's a tall, lanky fellow with blond hair, blue eyes and a wispy, fey voice that we seldom see on a man in his profession. But throw a wig and a pair of spectacles on Alexander and he shapeshifts effortlessly into a number of hammy roles. Watch Alexander pretend to be a wounded Trixie along with Dodson as her meathead boyfriend. Priceless.

No jaws are going to be scraping the floor after viewing this latest collaboration (and there are a few blackout scenes I frankly could've done without). But on Alexander and Dodson's slow and steady march toward comedy greatness, Seriously? Seriously. is another worthy entry.

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Seriously? Seriously. plays Thursdays at 9:30pm through May 12 at the Annoyance.