As the audience enters the theater, the screen on the stage projects seven trivia questions- all related to the Beatles. Brendan Hunt starts the show by asking if anyone got all the answers correct-- without Google. We are on the honor system, after all. The winner receives a prize- the opportunity to sing a song later. The tone is set--we're in for a great show!
The impetus for the evening began when Hunt had the opportunity to meet Paul McCartney. While working in England on Ted Lasso in 2022, the writing team was invited to see a rehearsal of the tribute to Taylor Hawkins, the drummer for the Foo Fighters. Brendan consciously chooses not to fan out as this behavior has not suited him in the past (he had a few celebrity situations). When the moment arrives, he politely greets and shakes Paul McCartney's hand, but...he has so much he wants to tell him, and so this show is born.
Na Na, as his mother lovingly called him because he couldn't pronounce his full name, was a Beatles fan since childhood. He shares his first memory of seeing the Beatles in the movie Yellow Submarine when, on one particular night, he couldn't sleep and was peeking into the living room where his mom was watching.Â
Later, he hears "Hey Jude" and is floored at the idea that the song repeatedly says his name. It spoke to his young soul. The Beatles will have an impactful effect on Hunt as he matures and experiences life. They will serve as a connection point with his mom. Their relationship was complicated. However, despite their differences, they found a common ground with the band and their music.
Hunt is a pro! He takes the stage like a master. His delivery is stellar from the scripted to the improvisation. He is a natural. The writing is exceptional; every moment is intentional, engaging, and entertaining. The visuals work wonderfully with the performance, complementing the script and style of the show.
Brendan Hunt: The Movement You Need is a funny and emotional journey of personal connections and the power music has in one's life.
"Brendan Hunt: The Movement You Need"
Written and Performed by Brendan Hunt
February 7- February 10, 2024
SoHo Playhouse (15 Vandam St. NYC)
Yani Perez, M.F.A, is a poet, playwright, translator, and educator. Her plays have been presented in various theaters in the United States such as La Mama and Yale University as well as internationally in Bogotá, Colombia. She works at IATI Theater, one of the oldest Latinx theaters in NYC. She is currently working on translations of Latinx artists in hopes of introducing them to English-speaking audiences.