NICK OFFERMAN AND MEGAN MULLALLY BRING ‘ SUMMER OF 69’ TO MASONIC
Torrid comedy, sans the live sex
“If you’re a fan of the arts, you want to play San Francisco,” Nick Offerman says when asked why he and wife Megan Mullally were bringing their show, “Summer of 69: No Apostrophe,” to the Masonic Center on Sunday, April 26. “Also, we were contacted by the Masons to come back to their temple. There’s an Illuminati connection going on.”
Mullally quickly chimes in, “Honey, I don’t think we’re allowed to talk about that.”
For those who didn’t catch two of the best sitcoms of the past two decades, Mullally is the Emmy- winning star of “Will & Grace,” a recording artist and a Broadway singer. Offerman is best known as “Parks and Recreation’s” meatloving curmudgeon Ron Swanson. Much like his famous character, Offerman is an avid woodworker and maintains a woodworking studio in Los Angeles.
Talking to the comedic icons, now married for more than a decade, is twice as challenging as interviewing any regular comedian. Not only are both brilliantly funny, they’re even better when playing off each other. This is probably why Mullally and Offerman so frequently work together — and why they’re so excited to bring their husband- and- wife comedy show on a 23- city tour.
Originally performed as a one- night event in Washington, D. C., last year, “Summer of 69: No Apostrophe” promises to hilariously examine the couple’s relationship and “yank the britches off their marriage.”
“It’s rated NC- 17?” Mullally guesses. “It’s not rated X. There are no live sex acts.”
“The clitoris is mentioned,” Offerman adds, “but not displayed.”
The duo last month canceled a scheduled show in Indianapolis, Offerman says, “in protest of that heinous thinly disguised discrimination bill,” the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. They’ve since reconsidered, “out of respect for the effort” that Indiana’s governor made to include LGBT rights in the bill, which riled up much of the nation. Offerman was particularly irked when discussing the issue.
“You’ve taken a step in the right direction,” he sternly said, as if speaking directly to Gov. Mike Pence. “Keep walking.”
National injustice was really the only thing that sent the couple into serious mode. The rest of our chat included asking Mullally and Offerman how they plan to travel on the tour. After several answers involving vans covered in peace signs and San Francisco’s crabs, the couple revealed that they’ll rent a car, pack up some audiobooks and their dog, and drive.
“Nick and I have taken a lot of road trips, in addition to acid trips,” Mullally says.
The night before they play San Francisco, “Summer of 69: No Apostrophe” plays the Silver Legacy Resort & Casino in Reno. “All the greats play Reno,” Offerman says.
“All the great filthy duet shows have cut their teeth in Reno,” Mullally deadpans. “I think that’s a well- known fact.”
“Laughlin was booked,” Offerman says. “That, too.”