Jon Bennett is not for the faint of heart. His one-man, stand-up/story-telling performances are full of cringe-filled sexual escapades, grotesque descriptions of bodily fluids, filthy language, and sophomoric humor that could make even a drunken frat boy blush. But if you’re able to stomach all the potty (and bawdy) humor, you will witness a masterclass in the art of storytelling.
“How I Learned to Hug” – Bennett’s third appearance at KC Fringe Festival – is a collection of stories of love and heartbreak. Connected through a narrative about hating airports and flying, he brilliantly weaves together a list of his greatest loves and how this vulnerability ultimately led him to quit hugging. Delivered with outlandish humor, visceral description, and a meme-filled slide deck, Bennett flows from punchy comedy to raw emotion leading us on his personal journey back in time with some choice 80s tunes to enliven the ride.
Bennett doesn’t use grotesqueries merely to be offensive or provocative. His ribald stories demonstrate honest emotion and vulnerability reminding us that we all have bodies and they sometimes do awkward and undesirable things. His underlying message is that the body is the way we experience life and the world and all the feeling that entails, from falling in love to broken hearts, from embarrassing first kisses to drunken nights with strange sailors. And maybe some teenage boys really do that with saran wrap?!?! Is it just gross or is it curiosity about the amazing things that our bodies can do?
Jon Bennett is a commanding performer whose “How I Learned to Hug” is a hilarious, sometimes vulgar, but overwhelmingly engaging show.
