I laughed, I cried, I gasped!

I went to see JAY JOHNSON: THE TWO AND ONLY! at the "intimate" Helen Hayes Theatre last Sunday afternoon when I was in New York for NAMT.

I went with the amazingly talented Hollie Howard, who played Holly Banks in PLANE CRAZY at NYMF 2005. I was a big fan of the TV sitcom "Soap" when it aired (1977-1981) during my formative years, so I was quite familiar with the duo "Chuck and Bob", but I hadn't really seen much of Jay Johnson since, although he has been performing constantly over the years.

The show (written and performed by Jay Johnson, directed by Murphy Cross and Paul Kreppel) runs for about 100 minutes without an intermission, and I was either laughing, or tearing up, or gasping the whole time. This is an amazing show, not to be missed by kids or adults. Run out and buy tickets to this show NOW!

This "one man/many puppets" show tells the story of how Jay got into the business of ventriloquism, following his career, mentor and influences, embellished with trivia on the art, science and history of ventriloquism itself, as well as purely zany bits with his puppets.

Did you know that ventriloquists were once thought either demon-possessed or mentally ill? Did you know that you always put away your puppet with a black cloth covering his eyes so as not to let his spirit disappear?

The puppets included Amigo, a sock-puppet snake; a vulture named Nethernore who sings a roadkill version of "My Way"; Jay's first real puppet (carved by Arthur Sieving) named Squeaky; the obnoxious Bob from Soap; a talking tennis ball, a talking cartoon, and the "Send In The Clowns"-singing monkey named Darwin.

The most moving part of the show is the story about Jay's mentor, Arthur Sieving, who he met by chance by calling the last name on a list of puppet carvers. He clearly had a special connection with Arthur Sieving and his puppet, "Harry O'Shea". When he describes the four of them chatting (Arthur and Harry, Jay and Squeaky) and Arthur's first wife walking in with milk and cookies "for everyone" it is such a wonderful moment. Or the bittersweet moment when Arthur's second wife gives Jay "Harry O'Shea" after Arthur dies (this was Arthur's dying wish).

There are some very funny anecdotes from the "Soap" such as when the sound man had trouble recording the sound of the dummy (Bob) but were picking up Jay's (Chuck's) voice loud and clear. Turns out they were moving the mike -- it was over Jay when "Chuck" spoke, but then they moved it over the dummy when "Bob" spoke. Too funny. Or when Jay gets the job on "Soap" but Squeaky doesn't...

I wish I could properly describe the absolute craft and art with which Jay Johnson performs. It is breathtaking, causing myself (and Hollie) to actually gasp in amazement! His love for his puppets and for performing is so contagious that he creates a magical world for the audience.

There are some really cool old photos in the Playbill -- Big Jon and Sparky (the ventriloquist act that inspired the five-year-old Jay), Jay and his first Squeaky, and Arthur Sieving and Harry O'Shea.

Jay Johnson says ventriloquism is what he was born to do. What a joy to watch someone do something so well that they love so much. I hope one of the kids in the audience gets inspired by Jay to become a ventriloquist.

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