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In the local comedy scene, the Rumoli Brothers (aka Kurt and Brandon Firla) are like no one else – at least in this half-century. They sing, dance (kinda) and deliver a pitter-patter, back-and-forth comedy routine that’s really old school. For the past few years they’ve raised their profile by hosting a talk show each night during the Fringe.
Last Fringe, they wrote the book and co-wrote the lyrics to SARSical, a show with one of the best tag lines ever (“The musical about a real showstopper”). They’re remounting it this week at the Factory Studio. Try not to cough during the performance. See Opening, in Theatre Listings.
Do you ever get mail delivered to the Rumoli Bros? Kurt: We get 12 pounds of fan mail every day. Brandon: And by “fan mail” we mean “utility bills.” Kurt: And by “utility bills” we mean Swank magazine.
If Mel Lastman goes to see SARSical, what do you hope he says on the way out? Brandon: Not bad, but I always imagined Denzel Washington playing me. Kurt: What the hell was that? How far is the Brass Rail from here?
Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin or Sammy Davis Jr.? Kurt: I’m a big fan of glass eyes, so Dean Martin. Brandon: No, Sammy had the glass eye. Kurt: I thought Sammy had the limp. Brandon: No, your girlfriend has the limp. Kurt: I thought she had the clap. Wait, what was the question?
What will we discover from this year’s census? Kurt: How many squatters I have hiding in my house. Brandon: The Census made no census to me, so I had dinner at 5enses with 50 Cent, then watched Census And Censubility.
Which summer movie are you most looking forward to? X-Men 3, Cars or Nacho Libre? Brandon: I’m on a strict Lindsay Lohan film diet. Bring on Just My Luck. Kurt: I only watch foreign, art-house indie films with Spanish subtitles. So, d’uh, obviously X-Men 3.
What does the name Suri (Tom and Katie’s baby) mean? Brandon: I heard it’s an acronym for Scientology Undeniably Rules! Infi-nitely! Kurt: Suri is actually an Iroquois name that roughly translates as “Father in closet.”
What does The Drowsy Chaperone’s Broadway success mean to you? Brandon: We’re changing the title of our show to The SARSy Chaperone.
What’s next? A musical about avian flu? Brandon: Yes. Tentatively titled Flusical: The Musical. Kurt: Im working on Irritable Bowelsical: The Musical Thats Anything But Regular.
Brandon, you’re in the new Showcase series Billable Hours. In one sentence, how would you describe it? Brandon: It’s The Office meets Ally McBeal meets AirWolf.
Where did Robin Williams not go when he was in town a few months ago? Kurt: To the bathroom. No wonder he’s so full of shit. Brandon: To the Brass Rail. Wait, no, I did see him there once. I mean — my friend saw him there once, with Mel Lastman.
