What I liked
Kornely never missed a beat when interacting with the audience. He embodied the character so well that I couldn’t tell if certain moments were scripted or improvised.
The prop and tech gags were perfectly timed without feeling over-rehearsed. Jake was clearly having fun with the material and made the audience comfortable, even when feeding us squirrel pellets. I was a particular fan of his series of images “proving” the existence of a mythical beast.
What I didn't like
I think the space could have been used more. The theater was well-decorated, and Jake moved around a lot, but a majority of the action took place in one specific area.
The production makes good use of the theater’s lighting and sound capabilities, but keeps a conservative leash on actual physical space. I think if Jake spread out the scenes, he’d be able to show us just how deep the woods go.
My overall impression
It’s lots of fun. A light-hearted (and sometimes risqué) romp through the woods with a wacky guide. From start to finish, Jake Kornely holds the audience’s focus and keeps the surprises coming.
