The Pee-Wee Herman Show - Club Nokia @ LA Live - Production Review

The redemption of "The Pee Wee Herman Show" is due in no small part to time and nostalgia. While the inherent tongue-in-cheek elements of this man-child persona was irreverent in the 80s, in the 90s it became almost a scarlet letter for its star Paul Reubens. The aspect of nearly 19 years past allows it to become its own because a new generation has replaced the one that first saw him while still retaining the imagination of the former.At Club Nokia at LA Live in Downtown LA, Pee Wee Herman again takes the stage and the determination with which Reubens takes to the persona in this current form understates his ability to be both subtle and downright subversive at times. The original stage show which was developed at The Groundlings and eventually performed at The Roxy on Sunset in the early 80s was groundbreaking for the essence that it was unlike anything around, even in the cocaine binge environment of Hollywood at the time.Now we exist in a much different time where the proliferation of information is much more than Pee Wee can probably stand. The surprising aspect about the show which is based on the original stage play is how well it holds up. It is still unlike anything around. On a technical level, the puppets and machines that might have been difficult in the 80s with the TV show have now become easier. However the intonation of pop culture still rings through.The one angle that one might have been offput with the show is if Reubens had somehow not managed to look like Pee Wee either in stature or voice. But it is all there as if no time at all has passed. Granted we were seated in the lower balcony but the odd realization after getting used to the fact that the Playhouse was recreated note for note onstage to a T is that we could have easily have been watching the TV show in the 80s. But it was being done live. Pretty cool.Miss Yvonne and Jambi are back as well as Globey and the undeniable rapping robot. One of the fun additions is Bear who runs around making gestures while innuendoes abound. One of the great running gags in the show involves an abstinence ring which Pee Wee keeps making reference to on his right hand. The other one involves him sitting on top of Chairy. It is simply dirty but undeniably innocent at the same time.Along a different path, the joy with which Pee Wee lets the air out of a balloon is simply magic as well as the blotting out of a scream. The King Of Cartoons is there as well with a subversive Balloon Tempest cartoon. Later we even get schooled on the possibilities of Mr. Bungle in a film time-out which elicited some great laughter from the audience.The wonderful feeling of the space and the show was the interactivity. The first thing Pee Wee did was come out and make everyone stand up and do "The Pledge Of Allegiance". Next up was the secret word which was "fun". And what happens when you hear the secret word? You scream real loud. Which happened numerous times throughout the 80 minute performance.It was more than nostalgia. Pee Wee was a part of pop culture. Reubens reveres this character. Seeing it in this form is a rare treat. While it might be a ploy to show the marketability of the character for a large motion picture as has been rumored, its essence is undeniable. People love this character...and time has not changed that.Thinking back to the essence of "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" as a movie and how simple and magnificent it was, one must think with the right director and a balance of artistic vision, Pee Wee could make a comeback. This is just the beginning. Goodwill to Reubens because this show proved how much of a cross generational character this can actually be. Out of 5, I give it a 4.