Comedy Review: ‘Please Don’t Destroy’ debut tour is serotonin live on stage
Please Don’t Destroy — the trio of “Saturday Night Live” writers Martin Herlihy, John Higgins, and Ben Marshall — is currently touring the U.S. in a show that’s part sketch comedy, part stand-up, and all joy.
Upon bidding the crowd farewell at the conclusion of their show at Knight Theater in Charlotte, N.C., the three gentlemen of Please Don’t Destroy thanked the audience for coming to see “the knock-off Lonely Island.” Herlihy, Higgins, and Marshall’s “SNL” connection and real-life friendship admittedly draws similarities to The Lonely Island’s Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone, sans rapping. Beyond the surface, though, Please Don’t Destroy doesn’t come across as a knock-off anything.
Cleverly Non Sequitur; Gloriously Unhinged
Certainly there have been plenty of sketch comedy troupes over the years. But how many, function as a familial unit, akin to a band, with the prominence Please Don’t Destroy has achieved?
No predecessor in the comedy sphere quite seems like an accurate comparison. The group’s humor is cleverly non sequitur and gloriously unhinged. Sketches take sharp turns as normal, everyday situations instantly derail into chaos, often in manic ways.
Laughter at Every Moment
Watching a Please Don’t Destroy sketch feels like someone understands the weirdest level of the sense of humor you only share with your closest friends in states of delirium. The magic of the trio’s chemistry with one another, though, is this sentiment is impossibly true for every person in the audience, affirmed by buoyant laughter at every moment.
In many ways, Please Don’t Destroy’s 2023 tour is defined by dichotomies. It’s raunchy, but sincere rather than cynical. It’s imaginative, but minimalist rather than elaborate. The trio’s matching tracksuits, in red, green, and blue, signal the core of the show — consciously silly, but genuinely sweet.
It’s generally not cool to spill comedians’ material when they’re on the road, so rather than spoiling specific jokes and sketch premises, let’s talk style over script.
In the guys’ online videos and pre-taped “SNL” sketches, their irreverent tone is supplemented by equally wild editing and visual effects. On stage, the approach is different, but its heart remains the same. In lieu of extensive spectacle, Please Don’t Destroy challenges their own material to speak for itself. The touring show is relatively stripped-down. There are no sets, no supporting players, and no costume changes. The three comedians become everyone and go everywhere, all with only their microphones, three chairs, and the occasional cleverly integrated audio cue or low-tech visual aid. A few moments even include fun audience participation.
Please Don’t Destroy’s Debut Tour
It’s not just Please Don’t Destroy who’s on the road. Emily Wilson, the tour’s opening act, brings self-deprecating, relatable humor set to music and multimedia. Some tour stops have featured surprise guests. “SNL” cast member James Austin Johnson was part of the lineup in Nashville and Conan O’Brien showed up in Washington, D.C.
Please Don’t Destroy’s debut tour radiates with a feeling that whatever imprint the trio has made upon the comedy world or pop culture at large is really just getting started — that being able to say you attended their first-ever tour carries some serious street cred that will only grow.
That’s especially true considering the guys are months away from their most high-profile project yet. They’re the stars, writers, and executive producers of an upcoming full-length movie. Where did they film it? Right here in Charlotte, N.C.
A Homecoming to the Queen City: Charlotte, N.C.
During their Charlotte tour stop, with simultaneous glee and frustration in their voices (another dichotomy), Please Don’t Destroy acknowledged they spent last summer filming their movie in Charlotte. However, they couldn’t say much else about the subject due to the ongoing writers’ and actors’ strikes, and out of respect, I’ll refrain from deep-diving additional movie details.
Regardless, the group’s adoration of Charlotte was evident, and not just because Marshall happened to be born here. From topical shout-outs (every show should begin with its headliners saying “Can we talk about NoDa?!”), to name dropping the mayor as a punchline, to repping a t-shirt from a local business, Please Don’t Destroy clearly loves Charlotte — and Charlotte loves them right back. I’ll always be grateful for the kindness they and their crew extended to myself and my friends who were thrilled to happen upon their set around town last summer.
In a twist of fate, Please Don’t Destroy’s Charlotte-filmed movie was initially supposed to debut Aug. 18, 2023, a date that was later postponed. Following the change of plans, when did Please Don’t Destroy perform live in Charlotte? Aug. 18, 2023. Whether on the silver screen or in person on stage, they still brought laughter to the Queen City tonight.
Please Don’t Destroy Tour Tickets
While watching the frenetically brilliant comedy-scapes of Please Don’t Destroy’s tour, several things are clear: Herlihy, Higgins, and Marshall love what they do, and they love doing it together. Lucky for the rest of us, what they love doing makes us laugh.
Remaining stops in Please Don’t Destroy’s 2023 tour include Durham, N.C.; Asheville, N.C.; Charleston, S.C.; Atlanta, Ga.; New Orleans, La.; Austin, Tex.; Houston, Tex.; Dallas, Tex.; and Los Angeles, Calif.
To purchase Please Don’t Destroy 2023 tour tickets, click here.
For more fun in uptown Charlotte, check out Marvel Universe of Super Heroes. The exhibition is open at Discovery Place Science now through Sept. 4, 2023.
