Robert Will show You the Door Reviews
OPENING NIGHT
* REVIEWS*
NEW YORK
12/1/2024
Robert Will Show You the Door (Tales of Being Fired)
by Susan Jeremy
By Edward A Kliszus
Susan Jeremy’s Robert Will Show You the Door (Tales of Being Fired), performed at New York City’s iconic La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, is an extraordinary one-woman show that transforms life’s job-related ups and downs into a witty, heartfelt exploration of resilience, self-discovery, and humor. With vivid characters, musical interludes, and reflections on work, dating, and personal growth, Jeremy creates a performance that is laugh-out-loud hilarious and deeply touching.
A Career Full of Colorful Stories
Jeremy’s performance is a comedic journey through her professional life, starting as a babysitter and spanning an eclectic mix of roles, including working as a bakery clerk, in food prep at Arthur Treacher’s Fish and Chips, and ushering at Radio City Music Hall. Each story is punctuated by witty one-liners, reflecting the universal struggles of navigating jobs and life’s detours.
Her stint as “Calvin Clown,” a character created for Bar Mitzvahs and children’s parties, highlights her knack for physical comedy and theatrical flair. Jeremy also reflects on her unconventional jobs, including roller-skating to sell Virginia Slims cigarettes in Los Angeles. Throughout, her mother’s advice to “get a job with a pension” serves as a humorous refrain that underscores her life’s balancing act between passion and practicality.
Character Work: A Kaleidoscope of Voices
Jeremy’s standout ability to embody various characters adds immense depth to her storytelling. A particularly poignant moment is her imitation of her grandparent’s brogue, delivered with a mix of warmth and comedic timing that captures the character’s essence. Jeremy brings many personas to life, from mimicking colleagues and customers to adopting regional accents like the Jersey-style Sopranos twang. These impressions are not just comedic but deeply empathetic, offering insights into the people who have shaped her professional journey.
Studio 54: A Timepiece of Humor and Dating
One of the most memorable segments involves Jeremy’s comedic take on Studio 54, the iconic New York nightclub. She uses this setting as a nostalgic cultural timepiece and a humorous lens into her dating escapades during the disco era. Her physical comedy shines in this segment as she recounts her experiences on the dance floor with exaggerated movements and sharp timing. This clever blend of humor and self-reflection encapsulates her ability to find levity in life’s awkward and defining moments.
Humor Meets Humanity: Teaching and Growth
While much of the show is lighthearted, Jeremy’s reflections on her time as a substitute teacher in a psychiatric ward and later as a special education teacher in New York City add a layer of emotional depth. These stories showcase her ability to find humor in challenging situations while remaining sensitive to the gravity of her work.
Her teaching career is filled with anecdotes highlighting the resilience required to thrive in public education. From navigating challenging classrooms to connecting with students, Jeremy’s experiences are relatable to educators and anyone who has faced high-stakes workplace pressures. Her journey from substitute teacher to earning an MA is a testament to her dedication and adaptability.
A Full-Circle Moment: Retiring into Adventure
After 24 years as a teacher, Jeremy’s decision to retire and take “Robert Will Show You the Door” on an international tour feels like a triumphant new chapter. Her reflections on this transition underscore the themes of reinvention and self-discovery that permeate the show. Jeremy’s ability to turn setbacks—like being fired—into opportunities for growth and creativity is inspiring. By reframing challenges as steps in her journey, she delivers a message of hope and resilience that resonates with audiences of all backgrounds.
Final Thoughts
Susan Jeremy’s Robert Will Show You the Door (Tales of Being Fired) is a masterful blend of comedy, storytelling, and emotional depth. Her vivid characters, sharp wit, and universal themes make this show a must-see for fans of solo performance and great theater. Whetherl aughing at her humorous take on Studio 54 or reflecting on the trials of public education, audiences leave the performance entertained, inspired, and deeply moved.
****https://openingnight.online/robert-will-show-you-the-door-tales-of-being-fired-by-susan-jeremy/
REVIEW- Robert Will Show You The Door Hamilton Fringe July 2021
“ Susan Jeremy, a stand-up comic-turned-teacher from New York, knows how to work a room. This is obvious in both the stories she tells recalling the myriad jobs she’s held (and lost) throughout her life as well as her mastery of holding her audience during the run of her new show Robert Will Show Your the Door Starting from teenage waitress at a restaurant through to an usher at Radio City Music Hall and on to a teacher of young offenders in a psych ward, Jeremy’s life of employment is rich with storied characters. Where she excels, both as a storyteller and a performer, is in selecting just the right set of mannerisms to depict a specific character as well as selecting the perfect essence of a scene for her audience. Combined with her spot-on sense of timing and pace, and her deft handling of the inevitable complications that come with a Fringe performance, and you have a show that breezes through decades of Jeremy’s life in a matter of moments all while earning laugh out loud moments along the way. This comes from Jeremy’s expert sense of how to first plant the seed of a joke and then knowing when to circle back to it again and again. “- Hamilton Fringe Review - stephennear.com
ROBERT WILL SHOW YOU THE DOOR ( Orlando Fringe Festival) May 2024
Susan Jeremy tells real-life stories in "Robert Will Show You the Door" (Blue, 60 minutes), a laugh-heavy, feel-good show about... being fired, Repeatedly. Jeremy, who is an
impressionist, can bring ordinary people to life with flair, even in 10-second snippets, so you see them.
And her stories have universal appeal; how can you not root for her? At times, you want to buy her a drink.
There's also a pleasing smidge of deeper thought in this show about finding "God's plan" for your life, as a nun once explained it to young Susan - no matter how many jobs it takes. But that doesn't detract from the fun. Jeremy’s eye for comic detail keeps the laughs coming.-Orlando Sentinel 5/24
Fresno Rogue Festival 3/24
“ Susan Jeremy delivers a downright funny memoir in “ Robbert Will Show You the Door ( Tales of Being Fired ),” offering a twisty career journey recognized by anyone who had morphed through multiple professions. Through laugh -out -loud anecdotes, Jeremy shares her coming of age journey, seemlessly embodying various characters as she reflects on her career journey,from grade school aspirations to fast food to stand-up comedy and to teaching in a psych ward.
Jeremy has a natural stage presence and her character skills are superb, filling out the world of New York City and Los Angelos without the need of added theatricality. The show’s structure is cleverly simple and leaves room for more drollery than one might expect from most resumes. While this may come across as a run-of-the-mill personal narrative show, Jeremy’s skill with the character-driven narrative and with landing a punchline makes it a must-see for anyone seeking a funny storytelling experience. “ - Munroereview.com
Winnipeg Free Press 7/23
Susan Jeremy, A New York Comedian ( and babysitter and chip-chop cleaner and horse-track labourer and one-time clown and many other things), brings her lengthy resume to life in this one-woman show. As the title indicates, Jeremy gets fired. A lot. Each formative event is shared with the full cast of characters in attendance. Although the 60-minute monologue is a solo endeavour, bosses, co-workers, customers —and even Joan Rivers —appear on stage fully -formed thanks to the actor’s masterful impressions.
The lightening and audio are minimal and well-timed, adding to the show’s effectively simple staging. When you can impersonate all of New York City, set decoration is unnecessary. this engaging ,coming of age memoir takes some surprising twist but arrives at a satisfying conclusion. Just as God intended.
4 stars- Eva Wasney