Ronna & Beverly @ Upright Comedy Brigade-Brought the House Down

Ronna & Beverly (R&B) are the funniest comedy duo performing live today.  Last night at Upright Comedy Brigade (UCB) for $5 (UnBelievable) they performed to a packed house with fans standing in the back, sitting on the stage & a making a mad dash for seats.  They play 50ish Jewish women from Boston.  They're life long friends in it for the duration; no matter how crazy their drive each other.  Beverly is the culprit with her zany physical comedy & spontaneous dialogue that stirs things up trying Ronna's patience without rancor.  Beverly's incredulous spin of events & their lives is hilarious & somehow credible.  Wherever they get their ideas from they've struck gold & mahjong magic.  R&B were glad to be here in NYC.  Beverly told us, "I love being here for the holidays - between 9/11 & Yom Kippur."  Of course they push boundaries setting off hysteria from an adulating audience.   Beverly's shenanigans in the Holacaust Museum were shamelessly funny.  Who else could be so cleverly irreverent combining comedy with the genocide of Jews?  "Just once I'd like to come through with my passport & survive, I've been there 4 times & I always die."  A comic's worst nightmare might be to die on stage - these ladies were killing it.  It's rare to find a team who play off each, the audience, and remain in character while suprising you with what comes next.  As on their weekly podcast, after jocular bantering they bring out a celebrity guest to interview.  Last night's guests were Mark Consuelos (a.k.a. Mr. Kelly Rippa) and Justin Kirk (best known for his role in Angels in Amer.)  The guests may try their best but they cannot upstage the ladies and are there for the joy ride.  Ironically, R&B drew a young, non-denominational demographic, proving their appeal comes from the gut.  They are uproariously funny.  Would I see them again?  Never again would I miss the opportunity to laugh so hard.