Triple Espresso Keeps the Audience Wired and Alert at the Plymouth Playhouse

Triple Espresso is a show I’ve seen signs and ads for seemingly my entire adult life. But, I’ve never seen it until now. Many of you will have seen the show, at one point it played annually for 13 years at The Music Box in Minneapolis. It hold records in cities across the world as the longest running show, it’s earned over $50 Million dollars in ticket sales and been seen by over 2 million patrons. How am I just seeing it now? Whatever the reason I’m glad I finally had the opportunity to sample the beans. For those in the dark, roasted the plot is a reunion of three guys who as far as I can tell never really even had an act, they just wound up in one disaster after another together. As they reunite on stage, they tell the story of their misadventures which we see played out in flashbacks. There is a fair amount of audience participation, get seats in the back corners if you you don’t want to run the risk of being part of the show. What I really enjoyed about Triple Espresso is that it’s the kind of show you can bring the whole family to. It’s clean humor, the jokes are nonstop and wide ranging from comedic magic tricks, songs, and even shadow puppets.

The show is being performed for the majority of the run by the original creators Michael Pearce Donley, Bob Stromberg, and Bill Arnold. John Bush, who has performed the role in Des Moines Iowa, will take over the role of Bobby in the third week and then be joined by his fellow Des moines castmates Patrick Albanese and Paul Somers on select dates. All six of the performers have done the show thousands of times all over the world, so if you can’t make it to the first three weeks, I’m sure you’ll be a good hands. It’s the sort of show that some people will laugh all the way through and then say that was sort of stupid. Well you know what? Try it. The jokes are funny because they seem to flow naturally and sure many are corny and seem like obvious plays on words. It’s like when a magician reveals how a trick is done, you are wowed as it’s happening and then once you know how it’s done you scoff at it because it seems so simple. So don’t ask how it’s done, enjoy the wonder and amazement you feel as it’s happening. Enjoy the laughs as they come and get caught up in the thrill of joining in with a group having a great time. If the jokes feel obvious once you stop laughing, don’t forget the part where you were laughing. It always looks easy when someone does something effortlessly, but believe me it takes creativity, wit, and practice to write and perform a show like Triple Espresso. It is the kind of show that everyone can enjoy and laugh at, but if having fun isn’t you cup of tea, skip it. I for one wish I’d brought all my grown children, siblings and parents with me. Or a group of friends, what a fantastic night out with loved ones this would be.

Triple Espresso runs through August 11th at the Plymouth Playhouse in (three guesses, the first two don’t count) Plymouth! For more information and to purchase tickets go to https://www.tickettailor.com/events/tripleespressoplymouthplayhouse/1084614#

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