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Submitted by C. Randall McCloskey

By Ian August; Directed by Paul Whelihan
FringeNYC 2011


Andy Phelan and Carol Todd in Submitted by C. Randall McCloskey

BOTTOM LINE:  A funny new show about four actors trying to make it big.

Despite the many lies and fabrications that Penny Nichol (Carol Todd) has put on her resume, she seems to only get cast as mentally retarded characters in small hole-in-the-wall productions like I’m Schizophrenic and So Am I and Autistic Differences. And she’s tired of it. When she encounters Brian Goodwin (played by Brian O’Halloran of Clerks fame) and he alludes to a new agent he’s working with— Mr. C. Randall McCloskey— she wants in. And now that he’s gotten rid of his harelip, she’s more inclined to let him “touch her boobies.” 

And why wouldn’t Penny? McCloskey has gotten their sassy gay friend Trev (Andy Phelan) a role as a “sassy gay waiter” on the show Pimlicio Beach. McCloskey has even gotten their dimwitted but beautiful friend Tiki (Rebecca Harris Flynn) a role as a hooker corpse on Malibu Johnson: Waste Management and a role as a hooker corpse on Bread and Butter Cops.

So as the gang attempts to get ahead in the industry, the mad hijinks and crazy situations ensue in Ian August’s absolutely hysterical and outrageously unique new comedy Submitted by C. Randall McCloskey. In hysterical vignettes we see scenes from the actors' work which mostly features the hysterical Todd foaming at the mouth or mumbling in a retarded stupor.

The ensemble, rounded out by Bob Senkewicz as casting director Dick Whitehead and Steven Mark Friedman as Mr. Kluntz, gels together beautifully under Paul Whelihan’s direction. The humor is heightened every time the minimal props and set pieces are danced on and off stage by the cast while hysterically absurd original music compositions play. This is a highly entertaining and very funny show, although I’d imagine the humor may not be for everyone. But I’m not ashamed to say I laughed my ass off.

 

(Submitted by C. Randall McCloskey plays at Teatro LATEA, 107 Suffolk Street, #312, through August 24, 2011. Remaining performances are Saturday, August 20th at 4:15PM; Sunday, August 21st at 2:45PM; Wednesday, August 24th at 3:15PM. Tickets are $15 and are available at fringenyc.org. For more show info visit crandallmccloskey.com. For more info about FringeNYC visit fringnyc.org.)