jamil ellis
Jamil's Comedy Beat
I was spectacularly surprised by the Tiny Spectacular (currently playing Saturdays at 7:30 at The Magnet Theater). The improv/sketch comedy world is primarily dominated by men. So it was a odd new experience to see 5 women and 2 men take the stage for this quality long form show. I've seen all women comedy groups (Meat is great, and Ms. Jackson has been recommended to me. Leave your favorite non-male dominated comedy group in comments.) but this was actually the first time I've ever seen a mixed group that was majority women. As much as some of you love to see the Kids in the Hall in drag, I think there's really something to seeing great developed improv characters in the corresponding bodies they belong in. And when the characters do switch genders you find yourself more aware of the character the actor is creating instead of the novelty of the gender bending.
More after the jump!
The cast (Rachel Hamilton, Ed Herbstman, Abby Sher, Miriam Tolan, Jean Villepique, plus Tara Copeland, James Eason, Jason Mantzoukas, Christine Walters, and special guests) does a wonderful job of creating great characters and weaving them together in classic long form style you see at most of the best NYC improv theaters. I was recently joking with a fellow sketch comedian that if you made the "typical" sketch/improv group in NYC folks usuall go with this recipe:
6 white men
1 so-so attractive funny woman
1 attractive so-so funny woman
Stir mixture to popularity. Under industry heat boil down to four funniest guys. Allow to rise until explosion/implosion. Enjoy chilled with solo careers in films or second-rate sitcoms.
If you look at the pictures of the groups at any improv theater in the city you'll see what I mean. So it refreshing to see something different and damn funny. That's it for the comedy beat. If you know of some comedy you think we should check out let me know.
(And don't forget to help me in my quest to become Stephen Colbert's New Black Friend!)
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Dear bycynic,
Your brave, know it all, eloquent comment took ky breath away. What fine word crafting skills you possess! Are you one of the world's top communications experts? It wouldn't surprise me to learn you are high-up in the World Bank or even the White House. Brilliant, I'll not be able to top that! However, I did see The Neighbour at The Old Joint Stock Theatre in Birmingham (UK) and it was truly excellent. The site is well worth a visit. Currently http://www.comedymoment.co.uk is promoting reading Comedy Monologues online as the baked beans of literary internet activity.
You call yourselves comedy nerds who regularly see improv in NYC and you haven't seen Ms. Jackson?
Also, being surprised at gender-bending (or having women there to play women) is an idiotic posture to take. Especially for so-called 'comedy experts.'
More women should write comedy particularly comedy about men. The neighbour series by Katy Coxall, a Birmingham (UK) writer is now partly featured on http://www.comedymoment.co.uk. The site is nearly a month old now and more seems to be added weekly. One of the latest additions is an excerpt from Claire Bennett who wrote MY Mother And Other Strange Creatures for BBC Radio4. The home page is horrible but if you can get by that it's worth a visit.