Jonathan Menchin presents

The Klein Family
1979-1982
 

...really cool comedy...

L to R: Marsia Turner, Ann Wendell, Darryl Warren, Jonathan Menchin, Richard Henzel, John Garvey
 

l to r: John Garvey, Jonathan Menchin, Marsia Turner, Richard Henzel, Darryl Warren, Ann Wendell

Under the direction of Jonathan Menchin and sometimes Ron Dean, The Kleins performed in comedy clubs including Zanies, Pat Haran's, and The Second City Chateau Louise. They wrote a lot of material themselves but also used a lot of Tim Walkoe's great song parodies and sketches. They were a long running act at Richard Melman's club Byfield's Lounge in the Ambassador Hotel, where packed houses cheered their offbeat humor and absurd song parodies, including "I Am Dentist" ("I Am Woman"), "Duluth, Duluth" ("New York New York") and "Khadaffi Man" ("The Candy Man") . New to Chicago audiences was the use of masks in scripted and improvised scenes that sometimes became oddly serious and haunting. Unfortunately, the same personality clashes that sparked some of their best work eventually led to the troupe's disbanding.
Jonathan Menchin is currently working on "The Return of the Hip Messiah" with Prop Thtr Group, as well as contributing articles to the satirical journal Dummy Down.

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