[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of Punk Grandpa, written and performed by Laura Force Scruggs and directed by Jacob Baierl at Whitefire Theatre’s Solofest 2024.
I have seen quite a few solo shows over the years. Funny ones, dramatic ones, poignant ones, even a couple of scary ones. But very few solo shows are about other people. And even fewer are sentimental homages to a favorite grandparent. Actually, none that I can remember…at least until I saw Laura Force Scruggs’s wonderfully moving and deeply, sweetly sentimental Punk Grandpa.
I suppose it’s hard not to have a favorite family member. We all pretend not to, but we naturally align with some people, related or not. They become ‘our people’ and for Laura, her grandpa was her special ‘person.’ The punk refers to his penchant for standing out, for being seen, and for his always playful persona. Laura takes us on a tour of her childhood, with pitstops at pivotal examples of her grandpa’s colorful antics and his particular fondness for her.
It’s a deep dive into why our special connections are important, why we carry moments with us forever and how to cope when someone you build your life around fades away. Grandpa suffered from Alzheimer’s towards the end and the sheer terror of that is handled with such tenderness and love.
Laura’s grandpa made everything an adventure, shopping, banking, and everyday chores with everyday people were elevated to an art. His infectious rambunctious personality made him quite the legend in his world and it’s this talent for magic that seems to have rubbed off on Laura.
What better way could there be for her to memorialize their love and his life than to create a hilarious, heart-melting and incredible creative show in his name?
Solo shows are the perfect genre to show love through memory and this wonderful show – beautifully written and brilliantly performed – is the perfect thank you for a lifetime of memories and an eternity of love.
Those of us who were lucky enough to have special fantastical people in our life will recognize them all in Laura’s grandpa. He was larger than life, generous, loud, cheeky and a bit in your face.
He was adored by his family and worshiped by Laura who would follow him around like a puppy as a child, and even as an adult. But he seemed like the kind of person who deserved that kind of attention.
He made Laura braver than she might have been, stronger than she was and unashamedly brighter than most. It’s right that she would celebrate a man who shaped her life so completely by allowing her to be exactly who she is. Funny, pretty, bold and wearing fairy wings for no apparent reason…she is also pretty good on the piano and the show is lovingly sprinkled with music and song which is absolutely adorable and deeply moving.
I loved Punk Grandpa. It’s a sweetly honest and heartrending show about Laura and her grandpa who was iconic in her life and rightfully so. He brought joy and now so does Laura.
Laura is touring with this lovely show, so visit her website to find out where and when you might spend some time with Punk Grandpa!