Every once in a while, you go into something with expectations and they are exceeded. The latest show in the 2016 UCC is a great example. Going in, I only was familiar with one of the performers so I was set to enjoy a new experience. However, I never planned on experiencing what could almost be a master class on pacing and timing.
Before the show, as the comics were going through final instructions and learning the lineup, there was a talk about the pluses and minuses of each place. We discussed the good and bad of going first for a few moments and then it was time for the show to start.
As always, the voice of Steve Lesser welcomed everyone to the show and introduced the host for the night, Eric Trundy. Doing an amazing job of pulling in and winning over the audience in the face of technical glitches, Eric once again got the energy flowing before the night's comic took the stage.
Just a little more on going first. It allows the comic to set the bar for the rest o the bill. Each comic coming up will be judged based on how the first comic handles his/her time and the audience. The major down side is that that comic has no real idea what to expect (putting him/her on equal footing with the audience). There are lots of ways to set up the night from the first spot: hit the stage with enough energy to sweep the audience up in your wake; being so funny that the audience can't help pushing the energy to higher levels; etc.
This leads me to the first performer of the night,
Dejahzh Hedrick. For about 15 seconds, the comic and the audience shared a bit of awkwardness with Dejahz perhaps defying some expectations, being deliberate and using a mannered delivery style. And then, he hit the first of many really sharp spots throughout his set. The audience was hooked and he was off into a great set. Never straying from a pattern of delivery that was the comic equivalent of a shot of your favorite liquor, he not only held the audience and had them willingly following his 6 minute comedy road. It was exciting to see someone so deftly use a silky smooth voice and pacing to build up the energy in the room. It was conversational and intimate and completely impossible for the audience to resist. When Dejahzh hit with one of his slightly "naughty" punchlines (including one of the best bits of the night, " ...more children than a first round draft pick..."), it is like that one reserved friend gets off a zinger that is so unexpected, it makes it that much funnier. The bar was set perfectly for the next comic on the mic.
Sometimes following a comic with such a defined style can be treacherous and I was concerned that this would be one of those times. Silly me! Jason Zaremba hit the stage and using an almost opposite style of pacing and timing, showed that he was just as adept using an upbeat counterpoint to keep the audience well in hand. One of the things that I loved and that he used perfectly to 'direct' the audience to keep up was using that style to focus on aspects of "loneliness". Instead of letting the main focus bring the audience down, his style made it simple for him to get the audience to not only buy into his view of it, but make it seem absolutely positive.
Whereas Jason was like the operator of a funhouse ride that you can't help but losing yourself a bit to, the next comic up was like a whirlwind, catching everyone up in its wake and leaving them all a little breathless. From a slow, deliberate pace on to a faster but still measured pace and then on to a force of nature. Nik Cartwright never let the energy from the moment he took the mic until the end of his set. Not just relying on such a high energy level, Nik was able to use body language and facial expressions to make sure every possible laugh was pulled out of the audience. Reminding me of that one hyper kid everyone knows who is probably not fully aware of how funny they are, Nik approached his material and time in the spotlight with a joy that was..well, to say infectious is a major understatement. Add to this, the writing ability he obviously has and it is an undeniable combination (to be fair, the level of comedy writing on display all night was nothing short of amazing).
How do you follow an act like that? It can be enough to strike fear in the heart of even a well seasoned comic. But, showing not one bit of nerves, Alex Garrettson stepped up to the challenge and was more than capable of handling it. Where that such a change in gears between the first three comics, the change in style going into the Alex's set was breathtaking in and of itself. Slowing it down with a deliberateness that would make a Dean Smith's four corners offense seem high octane, each set up and punch was timed to perfection. Utilizing a comedy style that I am very partial to, Alex was able to actually build the energy up even more. Playing on misdirection and any uncertain audience reaction, surgeon like precision was on display for the full set. Also, his use of self-deprecating humor showed just how smart a comic he is. When he talks about the relationship between getting a piece of candy after seeing his therapist and why he needed to see the therapist in the first place it is impossible not to laugh; but then you see his facial expressions and you feel a bit guilty about laughing and then he plays off that to get an even stronger reaction. It was priceless!
So far it had been pretty much straightforward pacing on display, the next comic up mixed it up some, still to great effect. The comic? The one and only, Zo Myers. Zo was the only comic on the bill that I was familiar with and I was interested if he would change up anything as far as his delivery went to kind of blend in with the styles showcased so far that night. He didn't. He was classic Zo. Never swinging too far either way, pacing wise, he was still able to shift gears and keep the audience enthralled. It was a nice contrast to the styles on display so far. Zo was at his best, going from personal/family material to social issues and never missing a beat or losing any of the audience. Zo also was at his best in interplay with the audience. It was the most conversational set of the night. He also had my favorite bit of the night; ".. family traveling around the world put parts of his ashes in pepper shakers..."
As Zo relinquished the stage to the next comic, I was curious to see how the next comic handled the energy level left for him. Sam Prickett took the stage and took control right off the bat; making the most of the energy left by Zo and making it his own. Another level of a deliberate, but still more upbeat style, Sam had the audience thinking only about him as he went through his set. Using extended set ups with precise punchlines, the audience gladly followed where Sam led them. Definitely a case where the journey was as enjoyable as the destination.
After Sam finished up, the final comic of the night took the stage. New to the UCC and relatively new to comedy overall, the final comic of the night was Jippsey (Jackson). Jippsey was one of those comics that you may not know to take in the moment of his set. Still looking to figure out exactly what his style is, Jippsey used a sort of stream of consciousness approach to his set. When he hit the mark with his material, he had the audience responding well. When his material was off the mark, his reactions and obvious off the page ventures still had the audience laughing. The one thing that stayed in my mind throughout his set, and after he finished, was that I can't wait to see what he does with the level of potential he demonstrated overall.
With the audience abuzz as the show ended, Eric Trundy once again took the stage to repeat voting directions. After ballots were collected , the audience was treated to a set by Eric. As usual, Eric's interaction with the crowd was a delight and he had the audience eating out of his hand as we waited for the announcement of the evening's winners.
And who were these winners? I am glad you asked.
Going through to the Wild Card Round, via comic votes:
Sam Prickett
Going straight through to the 2nd Round, via audience votes:
Zo Myers
and the comic with the most votes,
Nik Cartwright
Again, I would like to recognize the other comics on the bill. If you get a chance to see them, please do. Definitely well worth it!
Dejahzh Hedrick
Jason Zaremba
Alex Garrettson
Jippsey (Jackson)
No comments:
Post a Comment