I recently received an email asking me if I wanted to see a new play being mounted Off Broadway in NYC that tackles the tumultuous formative years of the legendary television program “Saturday Night Live.” With the recent shakeups and mass exodus at the show, it seemed a timely examination and to see it in a live format really helps to capture the immediacy of the program. I replied “of course” and yesterday at 2:30pm I sat down in the Newman Mills Theater along with a packed audience to see NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME: The Unauthorized, Unsanitized, and Slightly Unhinged Story of how a Small Group of Lunatics made Saturday Night Unmissable.
Written by Erik J. Rodriguez & Charles A. Sothers and directed by Conor Bagley, this play is a thrilling and exhaustingly funny ride. The assembled cast oscillate between manic comic energy and quiet introspective humanity to craft a well-rounded intimate portrait of the people behind the cultural upheaval that has dominated the conversation of comedy for the past fifty years.
Anchored by Ian Bouillon as a young ambitious Lorne Michaels, affecting his singular voice and frequent Canadian pronunciations. Lorne addresses the crowd directly throughout, eliminating the fourth wall and bringing us into his “live” energy. In his opening introduction, he makes it known that the story will be “absurd, young, and hip. And if you don’t like it get the fuck out of the way!” Lorne is presented as a man with a vision, a desire to make something truly unprecedented in comedy that is actually funny and can actually say something. Irreverence had always been the starting point, spiralling outward into absurdity and timeliness.
The cast is tremendous, and before I get into my favorites, I’ll let director Conor Bagley tell you his feelings on this cast:
“The talent we’ve assembled for Not Ready for Prime Time is nothing short of extraordinary. This cast not only channels the subversive spirit and razor-sharp humor of the original legends but also unearths the heart, vulnerability, and relationships that fueled their groundbreaking work. Our story dives into the personal journeys behind the laughter—the rivalries, the camaraderie, and the sacrifices—that defined a comedy revolution and made this group unforgettable. I couldn’t be more thrilled to bring their world to life for a new generation of audiences.”
While Bouillon steers the ship as a mostly well-meaning Lorne Michaels, his extended family of misfits features some phenomenal casting and characterizations. The standouts are Ryan Crout as John Belushi and Tony-Nominee Jared Grimes as Garret Morris. Crout channels Belushi’s intensity throughout, blurring the line between fact and fiction in real time. Grimes is the true standout, however, giving life to Morris’s struggles with authenticity and representation while struggling with his own identity and background. Kristian Lugo is given the difficult task of making Dan Aykroyd unlikeable as a shameless lothario while Woodrow Proctor effortlessly illustrates Chevy Chase’s less-desirable characteristics. Nate Janis plays double duty as both Dick Ebersol and Bill Murray, giving a more convincing performance of the former than the latter.
The ladies are the stars given the most meaty material to work with. Evan Rubin dazzles as Gilda Radner, effortlessly charming from her first introduction to her final scenes (which deal with her tragic finale). Even in her repeated loneliness she is radiant. Caitlin Houlahan gives Jane Curtin a maternal energy as the perpetual voice of reason tasked with keeping the hooligans in line from the inside, notebook consistently in hand, while slowly losing her own agency along the way. The brightest star, though, is Taylor Richardson as Laraine Newman. Her effervescence transcends the stage with youthful vibrance, even as the pressures of the show begin to chip away at her resolve.
Speaking with company manager Paul Bakey before the show, I was keyed into a scene in the second act that almost invariably finds the cast on stage breaking into giggles. When another asked him if it was scripted that way, Paul replied “no,” but I had to admit that I liked the idea of scripted breaking. Sure enough, the “Pal Corny” sketch features the comedic highlight of the show, whether intended or not. Despite the frequent scripted fourth wall-breaking prevalent in the show, it is this moment that is likely the most communal.
It’s certainly not all laughs, however. As the play deals with the first five years of SATURDAY NIGHT (as it had to be called the first year as Howard Cosell had snatched up the “Saturday Night Live” moniker for a single-season show in 1975 for ABC) and the personalities attached, we do see some stars burn out. There is plenty of in-fighting, rampant substance abuse, and inflated egos to tamper the comedy and reinforce the humanity behind the artistry.
The staging of the show is nothing short of awe-inspiring. The set is meticulous, with spinning wings to serve as apartments, live sets, and whatever locales are needed to tell this sprawling story. Christopher & Justin Swader create an atmosphere that brings the audience into Studio 8H at 30 Rock and costume designer Sarita P. Fellows outfits the cast in garb evocative of the time to complete the immersion. The production captures the energy of the show by featuring a live band led by Annastasia Victory composed of piano, drums, bass, and reeds. The production runs about two and a half hours with a fifteen minute intermission, making for a show that doesn’t overstay its welcome but still provides a great night of entertainment.
_medium.jpg "Set Design by Justin & Christopher Swader")
Coming all the way from Miami, Florida, NOT READY FOR PRIMETIME will have its opening night this Monday, October 20th, at 7pm at the Newman Mills Theater at the Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space, located at 511 W 52nd St, New York, NY 10019. The show is set for an initial run at the space through November 30th with single performances on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Sundays and two runs Thursdays through Saturdays. Tickets are available here.
Until next time, take care!
-McEric, aka Eric McClanahan-
