Danielle Solzman
Rachel Bloom’s musical comedy special, Rachel Bloom: Death, Let Me Do My Special, is making its way to Netflix after going on tour.
Prior to today’s Netflix release, I had an opportunity to watch the show live in person at Steppenwolf this summer. The Netflix runtime lists 1:17, which is 13 minutes shorter than the advertised 90-minute stage show. I am curious as to what got cut from the stage show and of course, I’m working from memory here. What I can tell you is that somebody forgot to turn their phone off at the Steppenwolf show that I attended. It’s one of those things that can throw a performer off even if it provides some unplanned material. As for Death’s (David Hull) first appearance in the show, I thought for sure that it was a heckler as opposed to a written bit. It’s been two months since seeing the stage show but it’s hard to forget the songs. Anyway, the performances were taped during the Williamstown Theater Festival on July 12-13, 2024.
I like how the show starts out with material first written in 2019. Any comedy special wants to set the right tone for the audience. Coming out and immediately talking about death–well, you get the idea. Instead, Bloom is on stage singing about the Bradford pear tree. Even as the show later turns to death, I assure you that there are laughs to be had, even if they are of the cathartic kind. We’ve all lost someone–or animals–close to us.
This is one of those shows where you know going in that it’s going to be cathartic. I especially knew that it would be cathartic as soon as she brought up working with Adam Schlesinger and his tragic death from Covid-19. I hesitate to use the word interesting but 2020 provided material for Rachel Bloom to use in her show, for better or worse. Bloom had planned to go on tour back in 2020 but Covid-19 obviously changed that. Four years later, the pandemic is fresh in her memory, reliving it every time she goes out the stage. More power to the comedian, of course, because this certainly cannot be easy. I can say this as someone who–aside from watching Superstore–prefers escapism over watching TV shows or movies that deal with the pandemic.
One of the bits that takes place early on deals with her dog, Wiley, and singing about the Rainbow Bridge. Other material in the show is about Rachel becoming a mother. There’s so much more in the show, of course, but it’s definitely better to go in fresh. As a warning, Death’s first appearance does lead into a bit that involves flashing lights. The back and forth between Rachel and Death leads to the comedian opening up throughout the show. Towards the end, Death is on stage singing “I Feel Just Like Dear Evan Hansen.” It’s a catchy song–one of many in the 77-minute comedy special. I’ll be curious as to which songs, if any, get a push for Emmy nominations.
Rachel Bloom: Death, Let Me Do My Special allows the comedian to be very cathartic in reliving 2020 and beyond–the comedy is just as effective watching at home as it was with a communal audience.
DIRECTOR: Seth Barrish
WRITER: Rachel Bloom
FEATURING: Rachel Bloom with David Hull
Netflix releases Rachel Bloom: Death, Let Me Do My Special on October 15, 2024. Grade: 5/5
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