Ted Greenberg, The Complete Performer (Part 1 of 2)

On Saturday, we enjoyed a highlight of Year 1, when we saw comic Ted Greenberg, The Complete Performer.  We enjoyed it and plan on seeing it again with friends and family.  

Ted Greenberg, The Complete Performer

The show is a bit hard to describe:

• It is a one-man show . . . mostly
• It is improvised . . . mostly
• It is full of unexpected surprises, magic tricks and laughs

While the show itself is unique, the ending of Ted's show is one-of-a-kind.  One lucky audience member is randomly selected, quizzed and then driven anywhere in NYC by Ted in a real NYC yellow cab.  Ted actually has a current NYC hack license.  We saw it.  The best part?  The meter is off.  

When we arrived at the show, we had no idea what to expect.  The performance is hosted in the SoHo Playhouse downstairs.  The room included a bar and a couple dozen tables.  Since we arrived early, we were seated by the stage.  Normally, sitting by the stage is a perilous thing.  We should not have been concerned.  While Ted's act is extremely interactive with the audience, he is the kindest, friendliest comic you will ever meet.  He expertly involved every audience member by letting them volunteer and then he built instant relationships with them.  Some received "names" and became players in the zany performance.  

For example, Greg volunteered the name Donald Trump in response to a request to name a sport.  (Donald isn't really a sport, but Greg wasn't keeping up with the action.  You know Greg.)  From that point on, Greg was known as Trump.  As the show progressed, Trump and Ted's Mascot became engaged and a wedding ceremony was arranged.  Ted's Mascot is another performer wearing a huge head resembling Ted.  Mascot does not speak but is highly energetic and makes the show even more funny.

Mascot and Ted selecting wedding gifts contributed from the audience

Trump and Mascot, the happy couple, sitting together during the show

The hour-long show never dragged but moved along rapidly.  As the show drew to a close, it was time to select the audience member to ride in the cab.  Guess who was selected.  That's right, Susan's name was pulled from the salad spinner.  After answering some difficult questions, Susan said she was ready to go to her destination.  And that destination was . . . where else?  Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue.  We think even Ted thought that was funny.   

So, off we went in an actual NYC cab driven by our performer, the very funny and talented Ted Greenberg.  (More about the cab ride and Ted in Part 2.)