Where oh where can a Milwaukee girl find not just one but four guys who are talented, captivating, amusing, clever and humble? On Sunday night, throw on some flip flops, brush your hair and get your body to Alchemist Theatre at 2569 S. Kinnickinnic in Bayview. Every other Sunday at 8:00 pm the boys of The Gentlemen’s Hour aim to have fun and entertain. There is nothing more pure than the energy that emanates from their collaboration.
Mike Kauth, Patrick Schmitz, Johnny Beehner and Tyler Kroll are the four gentlemen that comprise the said Sunday night hour. They’ve been working together for two and a half years as comedy group, The Gentlemen’s Hour. Schmitz and Kroll grew up together and met Kauth at ComedySportz several years ago. Beehner they "found in a cardboard box with five other kittens,” according to Kauth.
These four fellas write, produce, direct and perform every single sketch that goes on the stage or screen. Each Sunday finds completely new material at Alchemist. As a group that is consistently generating new material, it’s obvious that they not only work well as a team but that they complement each others style and ability.
The first act of their show on June 22 was a combination of live and filmed sketches. A film introduced the fact that Johnny Beehner would be absent, replaced by Dave Theune. Theune played in for the night like regular member. However, the film sketch alluded to the fact the Beehner had fallen victim to an always tragic car explosion. In reality, Beehner is currently touring the country performing stand-up.
Comic sketches can often lack that bite that is essential in live theatre. The Gentlemen’s Hour fully embodied each separate character, of which there were many. This can be exhausting for less adept players. Each of the four Gentlemen utilized superb physicality and vocalization to breathe life into what could easily become stereotyped characters.
For the second act they choose to exert their experience and offer up some improv. They asked for a dream from the audience and received a starting point of a car out of control. For the next thirty minutes the four seamlessly knit together an incredible tale with no previous discussion. Improvising can be an impossible feat for many versed performers. As Schmitz put it, they don’t bother much with the “light at the end of the tunnel,” giving them the liberty to devote their attention to each individual performance.
Kroll describes performing and everything involved with it as “an addiction.” And thank whatever gods there are for that. Their devotion and enthusiasm is effortless. June 22nd was my first experience with The Gentlemen’s Hour. Provided nothing horrid happens to my car, I plan on being in attendance on as many Sunday nights as possible. Yes, I admit it openly, I have a fat crush on these guys and their brand of comedy.
For more information on The Gentlemen’s Hour visit their website, www.thegentlemenshour.com. Upcoming shows at Alchemist Theatre include July 6 and 20, August 3, 17 and 31 and September 14 and 28. All shows begin at 8:00 pm. They are also part of Milwaukee’s 3rd annual Sketch and Improv Festival, taking place August 7-9. News about the festival can be found at www.milwaukeesketchfest.com.