Reviewed by Amalisha HuEck
L.A. ‘s smashing hit Bob’s Holiday Office Party! is back for its 28th season, and it is as wild, and sexy, and absurd, and utterly captivating as ever. The cast remains relatable and as good as ever.
For all those years, this longest running show in Los Angeles is outrageously funny; full of jokes, new adlibs, incredibly witty dialogues, and the super wacky actions from everyone on the stage. Each year the show is slightly different, according to the political situation, and the world’s opinions, the show does not take sides but goes with the flow and touches upon local, political, and social issues with comedy and inside jokes. The flexibility and freedom of expression is appreciated.
Written by Joe Keyes and Rob Elk, the play is set in a small town, where everyone knows everyone, on a Friday night at Bob Finhead’s E-Z Insurance agency in Neuterburg, Iowa. Year after year Bob puts up an annual Holiday party, where he welcomes his colleagues, friends, and clients to stop by his office for their annual holiday celebration. On this day his office is busy, people are coming and going.
There is a lot going on in this little town. Marty (Mark Fite) hit a parked car, which happens to be the vehicle of Mayor’s wife Margie Mincer (Andrea Hutchman). His dry, serious comments get many laughs like ‘Since he hit the parked vehicle, is that still a moving violation?’ And ‘Why is it called Alcoholics Anonymous, when everyone in this town knows who is in these meetings?’
Mayor Roy Mincer (Pat Towne) is unaware of what the whole little town knows, his wife’s affair with Bob Finhead (Rob Elk). They are the talk of the town. The out of ordinary Sheriff Joe Walker (Joe Keyes) is boldly having fun, because he knows that laughter is the best medicine. The twins, beyond interesting sisters, LaDonna Johnson (Judy Heneghan) and LaVoris Johnson (Johanna McKay) with their sharp tongues are stunningly outspoken. Carol/Brandy (Sirena Irwin) is great, beautiful, and sexy drunk and Elvin Bewee (Peter Brietmayer) returns as abused and unlovable Elvin.
All the characters are very different and quite unique. When the play begins, the drinks are the main attraction, like it is at most parties. As the night progresses everyone who comes is already in the state of intoxication; therefore, the behavior accelerates with every new drink consumed, from out of ordinary to the max of insanity. But Bob Finhead has another secret. He dreams of leaving this narrow-minded small town in the middle of Iowa and becoming a professional inventor in the big city. Will he be able to fulfill his dream and leave his hometown??! Among all the craziness that night, he realizes that he is the soul and the heart of that town, after everyone expresses how much he means to all of them.
Produced by Charlie Loventhal, Rob Elk and Joe Keyes, and co-produced by Marissa Drammissi, the production is infused with extreme degrees of neurotic, beyond the imagination craziness. Under the creative direction of Matt Roth, the show is once again full of life and vigor and part of our Christmas season once more.
Born in Hollywood, Bob’s Holiday Party began as an improvised romp on December 2, 1995, at Theatre/Theater on Cahuenga Blvd. in Hollywood on Cahuenga. Since then, the party has been at The Hudson Theatres, The Zephyr Theatre, The Pico Playhouse, The Atwater Village Theatre, The Lounge Theatre, The Elephant Asylum Theatre, The Third Stage in Burbank, The Beverly Hills Playhouse, and many more. This year The Odyssey Ensemble Theatre is hosting them.
The laughing out loud does not stop throughout this play. If you want to relax and laugh, this show should not be missed!
The show opened on Friday, December 5th and runs through December 21, 2025, on Friday & Saturday at 8pm, Sun 2pm, plus Thurs, December 18 @ 8pm. The Odyssey Theatre is located at 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd. in Los Angeles, CA 90025.
Tickets can be purchased through https://odysseytheatre.com/tickets/?eid=178211 or www.onstage411.com/bhop Information: www.bobsofficeparty.com