“Since there’s no more ‘Gong Show’ on TV,” said Don Ralph, “this is the best there is.” Ralph was speaking about the Feb. 16 “Blowhole Theater Marathon” at Barbes in Park Slope, a night of theater, music and audience participation that prides itself on an offbeat sensibility.
Named after the now defunct “Blowhard” funhouse at Coney Island, famous for air vents that flipped up the skirts of women walking through, the five-hour show prides itself on maintaining the same sense of shock and ability to embarrass participants.
“[It’s] an excuse to get together and do stuff we don’t normally do,” said Ralph, who plays in the band Life in a Blender. “And to invite people who are embarrassed or reluctant to get up on stage, we created a show where that was the point.”
Held together by emcee John Templeton Kay (who is known to swig moonshine throughout the night), the evening will consist of a Hawaiian guitar band, surprise guests and a variety of skits by the Blowhole Theater Players, a group that performs each year.
“We do a lot of skits with recurring characters,” said Ralph, “like Scottish Jesus (pictured) or Abraham Lincoln with a very, very, very tall hat. They all mingle, and it’s a very weird scene.”
“But don’t be afraid,” he added. “It’s very welcoming.”
The “Blowhole Theater Marathon” will begin at 7 pm on Feb. 16 at Barbes (376 Ninth St. at Sixth Avenue in Park Slope). There is a $10 suggested donation. For information, call (718) 965-9177 or visit www.barbesbrooklyn.com.
