Vidya Rajan & Mel McGlensey: Greg

The concept of “Greg” by Vidya Rajan and Mel McGlensey is simple and yet oddly hard to describe. Are you Greg? Great. These two love Gregs. Expect an hour of sketch comedy, improv, and clowning centred around the name Greg. 

This is a show that lives or dies based on the energy of the audience. I was lucky to attend on a night chock-full of both real Gregs and fake Gregs: the willingness to participate was high, and as a result the vibes were electric.

Unfortunately, I worry that the material of this show isn’t quite strong enough to sustain itself in the absence of a particularly gregarious audience. Additionally, there were moments where it didn’t quite feel like due diligence was followed in gaining audience consent. The core of good clowning is consent, and it’s the duty of a performer not to let the hectic atmosphere distract from the responsibility to do right by your participants. I do not necessarily believe that a family member or friend nominating an audience member is quite the same thing as willing participation. 

These hesitations aside, “Greg” was a riotously fun show. Absurd, energetic, and wholeheartedly committed to the bit, Rajan and McGlensey are both Gregs in my book.