According to his website, Tomáš Kubínek is a “certified lunatic and master of the impossible.” And after an hour-and-a-half experience of zany recollections and quirky interactions with the Prague-born Canadian-bred phenomenon, you believe it. Last night’s performance at the Fredericton Playhouse was a solid dose of laughter therapy.

The whole performance, or maybe even spectacle, goes through a series of acts that include audience participation, stand-up comedy and theatrical tales and stunts. Even a bit of magic is sprung on us for good measure.

The one-man show is divided into different parts, two of the six parts just revolve around him simply speaking with a member of the audience and finish with him pulling 20 spoons out of a purse or literally soaring off the stage.

For the rest of the parts, his dialogue, facial expressions, self-made sound effects, and exaggerated movements across the stage carry the play forward. He tells stories from his childhood with wide eyes.

He lumbers across the stage miming at first his grandmother and then a horse. He claims he’s an inventor and shows us his inventions: a contraption that allows one to have six feet rather than one (it increases mobility) and his very own wings. The show even incorporates a dance and a comedic farewell song on a ukulele.

The spectacle doesn’t necessarily form a normal “from-point-A-to-point-B” narrative, but it doesn’t have to, just like a stand-up show doesn’t have to.

Instead, the audience experiences comic pieces of the magnificent Dr. Professor Tomáš Kubínek’s life from chapters of the play, from his stints as an inventor to trips to Grandma’s house as a child.

Each is packed with more wholesome hilarity than the next.

For Kubínek the love of performance stemmed from a young age. He saw his first carnival show at age five, first performed at age nine and has now travelled the world performing from Hong Kong to Germany.

His also won several awards including the Moers Comedy Prize from The International Comedy Arts Festival in Germany and the Samuel Beckett Theatre Award from The Dublin Theater Festival in Ireland and for good reason.

Kubínek’s show is so enjoyable, one never has a thought to glance at their phone to check the time halfway through.

With his facial expressions and physical humour ingrained in the show, sometimes words aren’t even needed to get the audience laughing. It’s just laughter invoked by the plain ridiculousness of it.

All the elements of the play succeed in bringing a child-like wonder and joy to all the members of the audience, ranging from grey-haired seniors to university students to young children with their families.

Maybe most impressive though is the level of improvisation that Kubínek brings to the play providing a fresh free-flowing aspect to the performance. He banters with an audience member he brings on stage for one of his hijinks for 30 minutes and discusses his university studies and dog. And he chats with another audience member while pulling 30 spoons out of her purse. And yet, somehow, the small talk is hilarious.

The end result is a daring success of the realization of the capacities of theatre It’s both a conversation with your zany professor about his life and a stand-up steam-punk-esque performance.

Throughout the show, powerful laughter echoed through the audience every minute. It deserved the standing ovation at the end.
The New York Times reviewed Tomáš Kubínek’s show as “absolutely expert and consistently charming!” and Mr. Kubínek did not fall short of this expectation in the small capital city of New Brunswick.

Tour Dates:
10.04.18 – Fredericton, New Brunswick @ The Playhouse
10.05.18 – Saint John, New Brunswick @ Imperial Theatre
10.06.18 – Moncton, New Brunswick @ Capitol Theatre

Tomáš Kubínek: WEB