Tim Lagasse and Jim Napolitano popped up at Tonic, a small bar/performance venue between Delaney and Rivington streets to premiere a short adult puppet sit-com, Sammy and Sofa. A whimsical table top set built by Tim and reminiscent of Pee Wee’s Playhouse set comes to life-- a one eyed sofa talks; a fridge grabs and spews; and the walls turn psychedelic.

A single young guy, Sammy, (Czech rod puppet) is preparing for a blind date. He carries on a running conversation with his only piece of furniture and friend, the sofa, and a ubiquitous sock monkey. Tim and Jim seem to have a thing for monkeys. They even interrupt the show for a commercial featuring one of those cheap wind-up cymbal clanging monkeys. Even the wallpaper in the set is stenciled with monkey images.

Through a series of near catastrophes (a giant zit plagues Sammy) and wacky situations (a neighbor from Hell drops in) Tim and Jim have fun with their loosely scripted adult humor. These guys work well together. And when the chemistry clicks it’s hard not to get caught up in their off-the-monkey-stenciled-wall view of the world.

Copyright © 1999 Donald Devet