My overall impression
Jim Smallman hosted the Tuesday night Jam. Previously I had let him know that I did not like the section of the performance where he got a few audience members to reveal embarassing stories. Did he listen to my advice? NO! I think he knew that I was going to be there. This time he had every member tell an embarrassing story. I was just horrified. I was in that audience. He was all in. Really discovered his strength. Bloody brilliant. I have to admit I quite enjoyed it this time.
So what do I do for my embarrassing story? He started out at the other end of the room. It was clear he had it in for me. No way I was going to tell my embarrassing story. There was a dull embarrassing story, but that was kind of dishonest, certainly not the whole truth. What to do? What to do? Meanwhile the person being called was getting closer and closer. I was in trouble here.
And I had been troubled by my review of him all day long. It is really good to speak your mind, but you also have to be sensitive. Too many people just shut up. So when he called on me, I said, you just did a great job embarrassing me. And discussed the issues in writing reviews. He bought it. Whew, I was home safe!
I also really enjoyed Ivo Grahams performance this evening.
He is 19 years old, and his parents worried that the comedy tours were taking him away from his family. So live, he had audience members volunteer sentences in the email he typed to his family. He rejected a few inappropriate sentences, but accepted all the others, and sent the email. As a parent who does not see enough of my kids, this really hit close to home. I was haunted by it all night. Probably the best piece of performance art I have seen in my life. And finally he had the good sense to cut it off at the appropriate time, even though not all of the audience had contributed a sentence. Fantastic.
Their video is also great.
Everyone I spoke to gave these guys great reviews, but I disagree.
I saw one performer who hosted the Monday night Jam. Kent Valentino. He was brilliant, his words struck so close to my heart. If you let me know his name, I will update this record.
Then I saw Jim Smallman. First he asked everyone to introduce themselves, and then ad libbed in response. He did that very well.
He told a number of stories about himself, not that interesting.
Then he got the audience to share embarassing stories about themselves. Really he got friends to share embarassing stories about their friends. One guy was shamed into admitting he fucked a stainless steel dishwasher. Not what I want to hear about. I do not much like shock comedy. So he gets bad reviews.
Plus there was a group of 13 year old kids in the audience. I don’t care if their adults agreed, it is just not appropriate.
And finally, at the Monday night Jam one of the younger members of their troupe performed. Ivo Graham. I just could not wait to get him off the stage.
And finally my sincere apologies to those performers whose feelings I may hurt here. I say these things in the service of the audience.
Oh, and I do not like that they say the show is free, then ask for a donation at the end. Give me clear information up front please.
