Reviews

 

Graydon Royce, Star Tribune - September 19, 2008

Bob Stromberg need never wonder whether he is an artist. His divine comic mission seems clearly fixed on uplifting the hearts of audiences, which he did for many years in "Triple Espresso." Stromberg goes solo in a new show, "Mr. Wonder Boy," which opened Wednesday at the Music Box Theatre in Minneapolis.

Stromberg weaves tales from his life to explore whether he has the necessary suffering from which to create art. His gambit is a bad review (fictional) that he proposes he received a week ago. The wound has caused him to reflect, and he casts back to his childhood in search of his artistry.

This is a sunny warrior, genuine and comfortable as a leather slipper. Stromberg has a strong sense of the young Dick Van Dyke in his style -- superb physical malleability, a halting vocal delivery and perfect timing. He has obvious love for his subjects, but his self-deprecating wit prevents his stories from becoming saccharine.

He starts out brilliantly, telling of a sensitive lad who is overwhelmed by the melancholy chords of a simple folk song, the mystery of a great painting and the dazzling flame of autumn foliage. A poignant tale about the girl he sat next to throughout school -- the crush he was too insecure to ask out -- is absolutely gorgeous. We get the full portrait of a happy-go-lucky kid who was too shy to cut a swath in the world.

But Stromberg takes this story only into his first term of college, where a sour theater professor warns him that only through misery can he find hope as a performer. At this point, his narrative rigor fades and what had been an interesting dramatic inquiry diverts into a standup routine -- which gets to be overly long.

Bob Stromberg, the actor, tells terrific stories. But as playwright, he should examine how those stories serve the mythic tale of Bob Stromberg, the character in "Mr. Wonder Boy."

The Music Box production is warm and accommodating. Michael Klaers' lights and Michael Pearce Donley's soundscape give subtle dimension to Stromberg's stories. With Nayna Ramey's scenic accents, these technical accomplishments have the deft feel of art. Risa Brainin's direction is fairly invisible, though one wonders whether Stromberg could be pushed to use his physical acumen to more effect.

As Da Vinci wrote, "Art is never finished, only abandoned." Here's hoping Stromberg does not let go of this piece quite yet.

Graydon Royce • 612-673-7299

 

'Mr Wonder Boy' is charming and funny

Renee Valois, Pioneer Press - September 19, 2008

Bob Stromberg is a bit like a cross between Bob Newhart and Garrison Keillor. He has perfected the stuttering, stumbling repetition of phrases that made Newhart seem folksy and vulnerable, and he covers small-own Lutherans with a tender humor reminiscent of Keillor. But because Stromberg grew up in rural Pennsylvania, his stories are uniquely his — even though they touch a universal nerve.

In the world premiere of "Mr. Wonder Boy," currently playing at the Music Box Theatre, Stromberg is both author and performer. The show's stories are pulled from memories humor-enhanced by exaggeration and Stromberg's facial shenanigans. Stromberg is as good at conveying a stern former-paratrooper father as he is at suggesting an elderly mother worried about everyone catching pneumonia.

The tales are by turns goofy, charming, embarrassing, sweet and downright funny. But the start of the show is odd.

In a fake vintage 1969 video interview with Stromberg's supposed father, Thurl Wonder II talks about finding a baby inside a metal canister that crashed through his barn roof. But when Stromberg comes onstage, he takes a U-turn, completely dropping his "alien baby" origin idea.

Instead, Stromberg goes off on a rant about a supposedly horrible review of the show by critic "Charlie Morgan" whom he claims attended a preview showing. At first we're not sure if this is real or part of the act, and the uncomfortable audience squirms as Stromberg quotes insulting bits from the review.

As the show progresses, Stromberg intermittently returns to the review to quote increasingly nasty phrases from it, such as "like flossing with barbed wire."

He even offers dissatisfied audience members the chance to request a refund, directing them to a ridiculously-long website address which ends with the phrase "charliemorgansparentswerenevermarried.net." Although Stromberg milks all the humor he can from the bit, starting his show with angst over a bad review that at first seemed like it might be legit makes for an uncomfortable beginning.

Once he settles in, though, Stromberg teases plenty of smiles from the audience through tales of learning to woo girls with an accordion, a dead deer that terrorized him as a tyke and the travails of trying to be taken seriously as an artist when one hasn't truly suffered. Stromberg smartly uses recurring bits to escalate humor as the show progresses, such as his tough father's advice to "walk it off" whenever there's been an injury or illness —- including diarrhea.

Director Risa Brainin has pulled together a nice production, with sound that enhances Stromberg's stories (including off-key chord effects while he strums an air guitar) and a huge video screen behind the actor that illustrates key elements.

After an uneasy start, "Mr. Wonder Boy" captures much of the wonder of art and life in gentle humor. (Consider this a good review, Bob.)

 

Boy Wonder

Graydon Royce, Star Tribune

If Bob Stromberg is as lucky with his new show as he was with his last one, we'll talk to him again in 12 years about his next project.

Stromberg opens this week with "Mr. Wonder Boy," a one-man piece that digs into the awe-inspiring power art can have for a young boy. He can only hope it will be as successful as his collaboration with Michael Pearce Donley and Bill Arnold -- a little ditty called "Triple Espresso."

Ironically, it was the success of that show that drove Stromberg "a little bit crazy," he said, and caused him to bail out after performing it full-time for 10 years with his two partners.

"I loved the show and loved working with the guys, but I was having trouble concentrating -- and that's not a good thing," said Stromberg, a gifted physical comedian.

After dropping out, he went back to his career of doing concerts for fundraisers, family nights, business groups -- anyone who wanted him. And occasionally coming back to do limited appearances in "Triple Espresso." But Dennis Babcock, "Triple Espresso's" producer, encouraged him to write something new.

"Mr. Wonder Boy" is an autobiographical story of a youngster who enjoyed an idyllic childhood and then, Stromberg said, "overcame it all to become a comedic artist."

Apparently, 8-year-old Bobby Stromberg was overwhelmed by the beauty of a simple folk song in his third-grade class, and this emotional rush caused such a ruckus in his psyche that it helped steer his life's destiny.

"I sat with 33 kids in my class and Miss Nagle pounded out the chords of 'Shenandoah' and we sang and I thought it was so beautiful, I cried," said Stromberg. "And she said, 'Why are you crying?' And how's an 8-year-old supposed to describe his response to art?"

Stromberg traced that seminal event to others in his life where he similarly felt the power of music, theater or comedy. One of the big ones was watching Richard Pryor on "The Ed Sullivan Show," an experience that pretty much sealed the deal. He wanted to be a comedian.

As he describes "Mr. Wonder Boy," the piece seems to have a strong sense of purpose and mission. Stromberg heartily agrees and says that he feels a person keeps discovering his or her vocation throughout life.

"Until we wrote 'Triple Espresso,' I never aspired to write something for the stage," he said. "And then I sit down for breakfast with my buddies and we say, 'We should write something.' And if I hadn't done that, there is no question I would have ever done this."

And maybe someday, he and his pals will write another show about three guys who used to have an act and then reunite for a special appearance (the plot of "Triple Espresso"). Stromberg laughed and said Arnold had suggested the same thing.

"I am enjoying the process of working by myself," he said, "but when I walk down to the dressing room, I realize it's a little lonely down there."

 

Audience Comments

"It is truly the antidote for what's happening in the world right now. Lots of laughs. Sweet. I need to see it again."
-Ian & Margery FM 107

"Mr. Wonder Boy was funny, excellent, fresh and thought provoking."
- Tim C.

"I felt like I was going to be sick from laughing so much."
-Gary F.

"We've been recounting the funny lines the whole weekend! I thought is was a powerful show of stories."
-Doug S.

"Just wanted to let you know that we (my husband & I) really enjoyed Mr. Wonder Boy. Bob Stromberg is an amazing talent! Just as with Triple Espresso, I could see Mr. Wonder Boy over and over! I loved the opening...didn't want it to end.
-Sue S.

"Every vignette or story was a brillant and creative departure from standard one-man theatre. I laughed out loud (and I mean loud) at so many of your little windows into show business and your father-son relationship."
-Justin F.