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A CurtainUp Review
All the Wrong Reasons


I have come to view Jesus the way I view Elvis. I love the guy, but a lot of the fan clubs really freak me out.— John Fugelsang
John Fugelsang in All the Wrong Reasons
John Fugelsang in All the Wrong Reasons (Photo: Joan Marcus)
Based on John Fugelsang’s career, which up to this point includes hosting America’s Funniest Home Videos, countless stints on VH1, and any number of sitcom appearances, one would not necessarily consider him a playwright of nuance. A stand-up comic, yes. A talking head, maybe. But in his first play and solo performance, Fugelsang proves himself to be capable of both poignant storytelling and stand-up comedy, both at the same time.

All the Wrong Reasons, subtitled A True Story of Neo-Nazis, Drug Smuggling, and Undying Love, chronicles Fugelsang’s eventual marriage to his girlfriend of eleven years. His father is dying of heart failure, his career is in shambles, he’s selling his CD collection for food money —and his mother is nagging him to get married, to "give your father something to live for." Naturally, he resists, interweaving his resistance saga with seemingly unrelated tales.

Fugelssang's detours involve the time he went head-to-head with neo-Nazi David Duke on Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, his near-incarceration at the hands of Homeland Security in Orlando’s airport for drug smuggling, the story of his mother’s and father’s legendary relationship (he was a priest, she was a nun). Occasionally he crosses the line into both sentimentality and exaggeration. Overall though, he weaves everything into a high-energy, engaging show that also manages to be poignant. Perhaps owing to his time as game show host, Fugelsang is able to keep the audience’s attention, even when he’s simply narrating.

New York Theatre Workshop is perhaps not the best venue for this show. Joe’s Pub or its like might have been better since this monologue cries out for a cocktail or two. That said, Fugelsang and director Pam MacKinnon do make excellent use of the spacious stage.

Though there are times when All the Wrong Reasons resembles a blog more than a play, it’s a witty and interesting introduction of a newcomer to the the downtown theater scene.
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All the Wrong Reasons
Written and performed by John Fugelsang Directed by Pam MacKinnon
Scenic and Costume Design: Kaye Voyce
Lighting Design: Mark Barton
Sound Design: Jeremy J. Lee
Running Time: Ninety minutes, with no intermission
New York Theater Workshop, 79 East 4th Street; 212-239-6200 79 East Fourth Street 212/239-6200 www.nytw.org
From 3/23/07 to 5/06/07; opening 4/15/07.
Opened Sunday, April 15, 2007
Tickets $50 (Sunday evening performances $20)
Tuesday at 7 pm, Wednesday through Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 3 pm and 8 pm, and Sunday at 2 pm and 7 pm
Reviewed by Jenny Sandman based on April 14th performance
broadway musicals: the 101 greatest shows of all time
Easy-on-the budget super gift for yourself and your musical loving friends. Tons of gorgeous pictures.


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©Copyright 2007, Elyse Sommer.
Information from this site may not be reproduced in print or online without specific permission from esommer@curtainup.com