My overall impression
Having seen Abby’s work before, I knew the show would be a good one, but I worried about my expectations being met. I mean, after she dazzled last year in an autobiographical show that explored the depths of some disturbing topics while managing to keep her audience in stitches and positive spirits… After that, how could a silly show called “u and me and my best friend p” really cut it?
Well, comrades, Abby not only reached the bar she set with last years show, she grabbed the bar, did a pull up and flung herself over to the other side While wearing homemade dragon arms.
U and Me is incredibly well written – Abby takes us through a playground of finely crafted verses, ingeniously using literary devices— alliteration, puns, etc.
This show is kid friendly in the best way: the way that entertains the grown ups who chauffeur the kids around! But it should also be noted that while there were a few blue jokes they were more of a light sky blue and never tasteless. The script wasn’t always quite “wholesome” it was more playful and catering to an adult audience in a way that lets Us indulge our inner child (as opposed to what some similarly styled shows do as they turn everything nostalgic into filth- while there is a time and place for the dark blue shows – that, don’t get me wrong, can be QUITE funny, there is something really special about a show that doesn’t need to go there in order to get laughs).
In addition to silly songs and clever wordplay, which on their own are pretty impressive, the highlight was the handful of brilliantly crafted stories and their strong payoffs- each story was smart and significant and with great moral value – that sounds really boring but it was more like, sitting-on-the-edge-of-your-seat… Wait what’s gonna happen…. Lol this is so funny, oh and also my heart just grew three sizes when I learned the lesson of the story.
Another highlight – Abby gave the audience the chance to call out letters and hear short songs, poems and stories highlighting each one… Partial to the letter H- I’m still laughing.
If you have a chance, see literally any solo show Abby Schachner is doing, you guys, I’m pretty sure she’s one of our national treasures as far as the solo word goes. U and Me and My Best Friend P is not to be missed.
