The Hefner Monologues: this charming man

Vancouver: I will be the first to admit that I was not expecting too much when I walked into Origins Coffee House to see The Hefner Monologues.  John Hefner, the self-proclaimed estranged second cousin to the notorious Hugh Hefner, has written his one man show in the hopes of “writing his own Vagina Monologues”. 

To my surprise, The Hefner Monologues is a little bit of everything: a love story, a dance party, an interactive improv, a show that will have you shrieking with laughter one second, and leave you feeling deeply moved the next.  These stories come from all walks of Hefner’s life, from tales of his first love (a dangerous girl who liked to play Strip Dungeons and Dragons) to being a 7 year old in the Playboy Mansion to being the son of an alcoholic father.

Quite frankly, I don’t remember the last time I saw a show that charmed me the way these monologues did.  Hefner has an infectious, highly energetic charm about his performance that I did not expect. He fully commits to every single moment, whether it be completely awkward and over-the-top or one of the few quiet, innocent, pull-at-your-heartstrings moments. You can tell he’s overjoyed to be on the stage telling these “true” stories.

This show is about embracing your “awkwardityness” to find who you truly are. And I tend to be a sucker for shows with a lot of heart. This one is overflowing with it. 
 

For showtime information go here.

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