First Impressions

Jan. 6-17, $25-$30, Act II Playhouse, 56 E. Butler Ave., Ambler, 215-654-0200, act2.org.

by Mark Cofta

theater

No rest for the wickedly funny: After parodying a plethora of politicians in 1812 Productions' This Is the Week That Is (through Jan. 3), local funnyman Tony Braithwaite rushes to Ambler's Act II Playhouse to ... impersonate more politicians. The Barrymore Award-winner calls his new show, First Impressions: Tony's Historical and Hysterical Take on the Presidents, "a madcap virtuosic one-man show — with three people." Assisted by pianist Alex Bechtel and actor Howie Brown, Braithwaite collects his expert impressions of commanders in chief, adding takes on more than three dozen other celebrities in comedic sketches, original songs and lots of audience participation. "This show has sort of been in the back of my mind since I was 12 years old," Braithwaite explains. "As I grew up and developed my own standup material, the presidential stuff typically went over hugely, and I always thought there was a full show there." Anyone who's seen Braithwaite in action knows he can't be wrong.