Off the Top
About the show
Intellectual rapper Baba Brinkman and neuroscientist Dr. Heather Berlin explore the brain basis of improvisation and humor in this live comedy show featuring cutting-edge research and freestyle rhymes.
... Read moreMarried in real life, Brinkman and Berlin bring you the latest research on brain science and creativity while putting their odd-couple relationship under the microscope. Learn how a rapper seduces a scientist, how hard it is to solve a math problem while rapping, and how your subconscious mind influences your daily thoughts and feelings.
"Proof positive that opposites not only attract, but can also formulate a fully engaging equation of entertainment and elucidation...The couple’s animated delivery brings a feeling of spontaneity to the memorized sections…They’re both irresistibly charming, enthusiastic, funny, and talented, and smart enough to have figured out a way to integrate their personal lives and professional careers into one terrific show with 'Off the Top.'" Full Review
for a previous production "Their chemistry on stage is fantastic. 'Off The Top' is essentially a humorous lecture and it achieves exactly what it sets out to, entertaining and informing simultaneously. Though asking an audience member to come onstage and rap 15 minutes into a show is risky, it works in this environment, where the goal is to see how the brain works during improvisation...You’ll learn a lot here, with plenty of laughs along the way." Full Review
for a previous production “Combining Berlin’s engaging lecture-esque talks about the brain and its functions, Brinkman’s own freestyle raps, PowerPoint slides and a few guest comics, the loved-up couple craft a wonderful show that is funny, heart-warming and pleasingly educational…Brinkman and Berlin should congratulate themselves on a lovely show that would delight children, adults, theatre-nerds and scientists alike…I left feeling warm, cheerful and enlightened." Full Review
for a previous production "These guys are incredibly clever and inspiring, and manage to produce an educational, inspiring and wonderfully entertaining show from beginning to end. Baba and Heather had a delightful, bantering rapport between them…The show ends with a rap by Heather herself, and its humor sent you off with a good feeling, adding to a sense of smugness that you’d stumbled across an absolute jewel of a show." Full Review
for a previous production "It may be the best show of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe...Brinkman flexes his considerable rap skills…It’s a near-perfect show…Not only is it massively entertaining, it’s also eye-opening...One does get the sense that this could equally be a science class taught by a comedian, as a comedy gig led by a scientist… You’ll laugh throughout, and keep thinking about it afterwards – 'Off The Top' is a comedy gig that keeps giving long after you’ve left." Full Review
See it if you have an amateur interest in either science or rap music and want to be both educated and entertained. It's an inclusive, intimate show.
Don't see it if you like a more polished, professional show, or if you're an easily bored expert in science or rap. Also, audience volunteer quality varies.
See it if You want science facts in a casual setting. You're a fan of Baba Brinkman & want to see all his shows.
Don't see it if You're expecting a theatrical event: it's an improv-ed science lecture w/out a story structure. You want Baba's rap format: not much here.
Also Don't be fooled: this is a science lecture by Baba's wife. Baba does v... Read more Read less
See it if you enjoy a mix of logic and magic
Don't see it if you're looking for a highly polished piece of theater
See it if You are interested in neuro-science. This is more informative than pure entertainment.
Don't see it if You want an actual show. This is more like a very good and entertaining lecture.
See it if you are interested in seeing a performance about how the brain works that is part lecture, part rap, and part stand-up comedy.
Don't see it if you are not a fan of rap music and are not interested in neuroscience or learning about the brain.
See it if You like rap and are interested in the brain. Or if you like either one or the other. The show is pretty brilliant.
Don't see it if You're expecting a huge show with great staging. It's just two people in a basement bar. But it's a great show, so don't miss out on it!
See it if you're interested in neuroscience explained well and interspersed with comedy and freestyle. I learned a lot. Love between leads is adorable
Don't see it if you don't like: white guy rap, dark basements, self-deprecating humor relying in part on competent woman less competent man tropes.
See it if you like comedies
Don't see it if you don't like comedies
See it if you like science lectures, want to see an "odd couple" in real life, or want to test your multi-tasking in public (1-2 people can do this).
Don't see it if you are looking for a tight show, a plot, or huge scientific insights (there are some, just mostly at the beginning).
Also It's a fun, light-hearted collaboration between the husband-wife pair ... Read more Read less
See it if you enjoy watching brain games and like rap improv even when the quality is uneven.
Don't see it if you have already heard enough lectures about how the brain works and find stories about how a couple fell in love boring.
Also Performance I saw was a lot longer than 1 hr 20minutes and became excr... Read more Read less
See it if you like science and/or rap.
Don't see it if you don't like science and/or rap.
See it if You would like a really interesting science lecture.
Don't see it if You want a plotted play.
See it if you love neuroscience and/or rap music and would be interested in seeing the two combined.
Don't see it if you don't enjoy learning about the brain or listening to freestyle rap.
See it if you want a fun show. Hard core neuroscience interposed with wrap music is an unexpected combination. A light, jovial, evening.
Don't see it if like wrap music or learning about the brain.
See it if you like brainiac entertainment. It's a neuroscience variety show. Rap, comedy, science talk rolled into one.
Don't see it if science and nerdy subjects aren't too your liking. It's enjoyable but very intellectual.
See it if you like rap as a means to communicate ideas, audience participation, real life husband & wife performances & want to learn about the brain.
Don't see it if This isn't a play, it's more of a lecture with rap, and it's in a small bar with tables and chairs. Adjust your expectations accordingly.
Also I saw Baba Brinkman's Rap Guide to Climate Chaos in the upstairs theat... Read more Read less
See it if you are interested in Neuroscience and Rapping. I have seen Baba perform before, and this wasn't as fun of a show as in the past.
Don't see it if you don't want to feel as if you are in a lecture. This was part rap, part lecture part stand up comedy show.
See it if You like rap and/or comedy and are interest in the science of how they are created. You like the idea of a science-rap-comedy hybrid "show."
Don't see it if You are expecting a play or theatrical show. This is more of a science-conference seminar with some rap and comedy tossed in.
Also This was a really interesting, fun evening (proximity the a bar defini... Read more Read less
See it if you want to see an interesting TED RAP talk work in progress with a less than interesting comedian and you've had a few drinks from the bar
Don't see it if you are expecting theater or actors who can use the microphone properly or you have no interest in the effects of rap on the brain.
See it if you like to learn a few new things, think science is fascinating and the brain more so, you like a casual lounge atmosphere, are a Baba fan.
Don't see it if You don't like rap, think science is boring, don't like seeing a real-life couple perform together. It goes on too long, is uneven, but OK.
Also Saw this 3/15/17 at the Huron Club downstairs at Soho Playhouse. There... Read more Read less
See it if You're interested in catching more of a lecture (on the brain) than traditional show. U will learn tho-& come away w/some insightful facts~
Don't see it if You're looking for a play, not a comedy/rap/lecture-or the topic would bore you. Needs to be tightened & directed to get more out of show~
See it if You want a fun, intimate, brilliant night of theatre with a brain stimulating twist!
Don't see it if If you want to see typical plays or musicals. This is out of the box. Oh go on ...step outside the box....!!!
See it if Boy rapper marries girl neuroscientist. They perform a weekly act that is half brain science, half comedy. The smart babe is hot stuff.
Don't see it if You want a work of fiction. This is closer to a standup comedy act than a theater piece.
See it if like science heavy shows, husband and wife duo act
Don't see it if you want to big sets and don't like rap
Cast & Creatives (6)
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