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Friday, February 27, 2009

The Hefner Monologues

theater

The Hefner Monologues both is and isn't what you might guess from the title. Yes, it's monologues; no, they're not separate or independent. Yes, it's a guy named Hefner talking about his own life; no, his stories are neither fictionalized nor gaudily embellished (at least, he is able to convince us as much). As personal tales are wont to, these include embarrassing moments, funny situations, life-changing experiences, revelations. We see Mr. Hefner in childhood, adolescence, and college years. One lesson learned: it's often the "silly little things" that make all the difference, things like finding you have a clean tissue to offer a pretty girl who's crying. Another lesson: being related to a famously unique celebrity (Mr. Hefner is a relation of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner) can be a curse, but the curse can also be lifted. Mr. Hefner is a talented actor with a big personality. While the stories may be true and unembellished, the delivery is bigger than life, often nearing (but never going over) the top. Part of the Frigid Festival, The Hefner Monologues is a modest-sized piece with a very big heart, and well worth your modest investment.

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