Caliendo impersonates a chair, Audience pleased

By Brandon Scott Wolf

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase was in side-splitting hysterics after watching Frank Caliendo’s brand of funny-for-a-bit stand-up comedy. The crowd was riveted as he successfully impersonated a chair for over an hour.

The performance was an instant classic and extremely reminiscent of Robin Williams’ breakthrough impression of a fast digital clock during his “I’m Funny Look at Me Tour” of 1986. The tour was highlighted by Williams’ alleged use of LSD, frantic movements andhis repetitive screaming of, “Hey! Look at me; I’m a fast digital clock.”

“Caliendo’s first half hour or so was great, but then it got even better when we realized how hard he was trying,” said audience member John Lutridge. “I couldn’t believe that he didn’t break character for over an hour. Truly different.”

“At points, the routine was sharp, edgy, and occasionally downright blunt. He seemed well rounded throughout his material,” said local art critic Steven Rockwell. “[Caliendo] had the room grinning like idiots and he never so much as breathed a word.”

Caliendo arrived nearly 40 minutes into his own gig and found a club full of uproarious laughter and applause.

“I had no idea why that guy got in front of the microphone, but we booed him off stage and Frank was back at his chair impersonation,” said University of Michigan grad student Rita Tardded. “He was so into his act that stagehands actually carried him off when his time was up.”

Due to his success, Caliendo has set up a one night comedy tour in every major city in the U.S. and Canada entitled “It’s Furniture, Laugh.” He plans to simultaneously impersonate a stool in San Diego, a dresser in New York and a coffee table in New Haven, Conn.

Swedish furniture store IKEA plans on sponsoring the sold out tour.