The title Grandiloquent is just one of many ten-dollar words comedian Gary Gulman sprinkles throughout his solo show at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. And I bet many in the audience (including yours truly) may be at a loss for the definitions of some of them. But “grandiloquent” which means “pompous or extravagant in language…especially in a way that is intended to impress” is the perfect title for this exceptionally funny and heartfelt show because Gulman, as he explains, has spent his entire life trying to prove his mettle after enduring emotional damage from a childhood scarred by mental abuse. I’m sure none of this sounds funny at all, and in lesser hands, this act would surely flop but Gulman masterfully weaves his insecurities and highly evolved sense of humor into a bravura performance that’s as wise as it is hysterical.
That’s saying a lot because, growing up, Gulman tells us he was constantly told he wasn’t funny at all. And while you have to feel for the guy, his youthful misery likely led to what’s become a very successful career.
Right off the bat, he explains that his love of books and literature kept him sane, as he realized at a very young age he was not a normal kid. That is, he was highly intelligent which caused him great angst when his family mistook his precociousness for immaturity and failed to know how to nurture his unique gifts.
[Read Frank Scheck’s ★★★★☆ review here.]
With his straggly hair and goatee, he looks like a cross between Frank Zappa and Tiny Tim. It’s an odd appearance which works for him as it sets the stage for a highly unusual performance that comes off as half stand-up, half therapy session. What he couldn’t get from his family in terms of approval, he seeks from his audience, and boy does he deliver.
Consider his pointed observations: He calls Tupperware parties a “bizarre matriarchal tribal ritual” of the 70’s which went out of fashion in the 90’s “when moms realized they could get plastic containers anywhere.” He describes the artsy toy Lite Brite as an “offshoot of Seurat’s pointillism.” And he refers to a sadistic first grade teacher as Ayn Rand (the novelist known for her radical philosophy centered on self-interest). That teacher’s bullying and abuse led him to contemplate suicide at age 7. That is clearly not a laughing matter but what makes this show so special is ulman’s rare talent of being able to conquer adversity with a resilience that turned all the pain in his life into a universal story peppered with insights and great wit.
His assessment of the “greatest generation” is especially incisive, saying “they defeated the Nazis while also sharing a lot of the same attitudes and beliefs but God love ‘em, they were able to put their sames aside, go over there, defeat fascism, return to America, and lean into separate drinking fountains.”
In his eagerness to impress, he dazzles us with a long-winded but stunning history of grunge music as it led to the formation of the band Pearl Jam. Even if you have no interest in the topic, his intellectual mastery and grasp of vocabulary elevate the riff to a rhetorical art form.
Gulman describes Grandiloquence as “a show about childhood and what it did to me.” It brings to mind the aphorism which he repeatedly quotes “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” I don’t know how strong Gulman is, but by show’s end, he comes to terms with the pain in his life, saying “I tried to disconnect the feeling of sadness, but then you wind up disconnecting the joy, the love, the light along with it.” Some profound thoughts there and no big words necessary. The show, with the added benefit of direction by Moritz Von Stuelpnagel, is just that good!
Gary Gulman: Grandiloqent opened January 19, 2025, at the Lucille Lortel Theatre and runs through February 8. Tickets and information: lortel.org
