n
a series of text messages from their cellphones, pinpointed by GPS
somewhere among the boutiques of Soho, Jill Dobson and Jessie Spellmann
prove that blondes, even those aspiring to be non-blondes, do have more
fun.
The duo, performing an encore
Saturday, August 20 at the People’s Improv Theater as “Two Non-Blondes,”
plan to take their audience on a trip from the present back through
college and down to junior high. They say they are exceptional at
knowing how to “yes, and” each other (referring to improvisers technique
for responding to each other on stage and building scenes).
“I put us in scenes I thought we
would not only love to do, but an audience would kill to see – like an
all-out blonde hair flying everywhere catfight,” says Jessie.
“Wait! There’s a fight scene?”
asks Jill. “Do I get a stunt double?”
“Yes, and … no actually, sorry, I
want a fair chance to clothesline you,” Jessie responds.
As teachers and mentors, the duo
claim Brian Huskey and Peter Gwinn of the Upright Citizens Brigade. Jill
says her favorite actor is Homer Simpson. “His facial expressions are
priceless! What talent!”
Jessie’s cousin, Jordan Peele, is
a performer on “Mad TV.” “He taught us how to overcome the hurdle of
being both beautiful and funny,” she says. “Our beauty was a very tricky
obstacle to overcome, but we found ways. For example, Jill stopped
showering. It’s been a really gross but enlightening experience.”
Like a recent female duo show,
“Rode Hard and Put Away Wet,” that featured June Raphael and Casey
Wilson, at the UCB Theatre, “Two Non-Blondes” draws on the performers’
experiences growing up, but not to the letter.
“I wouldn’t say we play ourselves,
I’d say we play each other,” says Jill. “For instance, Jessie’s
character has a boyfriend who owns a frilly canopy bed. That charming
experience is straight out of my life, not hers.”
“Wait!” Jessie interrupts, “Does
that mean you’re playing me when you do the ‘worm’? Just kidding,
there’s no ‘worm’ in the show. Jill’s experience was such a great
concept to play with. The ultimate unattainable guy meets the girl who
adores him too much to accept the truth. In life, Jill just dealt with
it and moved on. But what if she kidnapped his homebound grandmother to
get revenge! Again, we don’t really kidnap anyone, but you’ll like the
obnoxious things we decided to do even more.”
“Yeah, like when I do the ‘worm,’”
Jill adds.
Meanwhile, Two Non-Blondes are
finding themselves in demand, planning more upcoming shows after their
performance at the PIT. “Of course, we’ll be famous and lounging on our
yachts,” says Jessie.
“The damn paparazzi is already
tailing us,” adds Jill. “At this very moment, I’m typing on my
Blackberry while driving my Escalade and eluding the photographers. It’s
tough you know. I’m just thankful I have Scientology to get me through
it.”
Two Non-Blondes (with special
guest Jonathan Brown-Tea) perform 8 p.m. Saturday, August 20 at the
People’s Improv Theater, 154 W. 29th St., New York. Admission
is $5.