The lights and the music go down and Steve Lesser is doing announcing honors for this show. He introduces our host for the show, Eric Trundy. Steve and Eric pulled out all the stops to try to get the audience warmed up and ready to go. It seems to start that the crowd isn't buying it, but by the time housekeeping announcements are over, there is a noticeable build in the room's energy. Here's hoping it keeps on and the crowd can be won over.
Our first comic up is Marcus Blyden! As he starts out, the first thing to grab you is his Quiet, laid back delivery. It is just the right combination to pull this crowd in. What I like is the kind of quirky mix of personable and cynical in his material. It seems to be winning the audience over. There is not a lot of feedback in the way of out loud laughter, but there is a nice undertone throughout the set and the energy is definitely more noticeable in the room as he wraps up. There are a lot of smiles and nodding heads as he leaves the mic.
Between the comics, Eric working the crowd in a very subtle, but usually effective, way. As the comics leave the mic, there is a little interplay either with the comic, or with the crowd in regards to the comic. This helps keep what energy is there doesn't fade between acts. The energy is a little more relaxed at his point and it seems the crowd as a whole is finally getting comfortable. Here's hoping!
Our next comic on the mic is one that I always enjoy catching up with, Mimi Benfield! Mimi, as usual, is audacious and brassy, but in a very personable way. It is a possibility that the crowd might not buy into her set... at least until she finishes her first bit. The energy of the crowd takes on a more informal feel. It is sort of like being in a group of people who are new to each other and there is the sizing up period before it is decided that everyone involved is cool. The one thing that I think is most appealing about her comedy is that it comes across with such a personable vibe. This is your best friend or favorite coworker tell you a slightly off-color story and you come away feeling even more positively about them for the sharing. While, again, there was not much of an out loud response, the energy in the room is ramping up nicely.
Following Mimi, we have Rene Luna! Rene is slick. I say that in the most positive way possible. He is the person we all know who everyone expects to be the prankster and even if that proves true, you have to still like the guy. You expect some shenanigans as he charges fully into his set. This is almost the comedy equivalent of the 3 card monte. You know the fix is in but you decide that it is worth a few bucks to enjoy the side show. There is a bit more out loud laughing going on and the crowd seems fully relaxed and into the show at this point. Rene's energy doesn't break for a second and the crowd is happy to be pulled along.
Next up, Criss Cain. Criss is almost impossible to sum up in a few words. Looking very much like a younger Riff Raff, He kind of challenges the audience to keep up. For the most part, he succeeds. The energy level is all over the place as he goes through his set and if it weren't for the fact that Criss is orchestrating most of that, I would be worried. So far, the response from the audience is the most varied. There is a swing several times from out loud laughter to mild chuckling and back. Criss plays well off of each ebb and swell with aplomb. As he finishes, the crowd rewards him with a very sincere burst of applause and laughter.
Next up on the mic, Kenaz Graves. Within a few words, Kenaz makes it very obvious what energy level he is working from. He also comes across in a manner that makes you believe instantly that it will be worth it. With his smooth delivery style and the aura of playfulness, Kenaz shows a deft hand in get enough from the audience to allow for a bit of interplay. He easily pulls the response from the audience that he wants/needs to have a successful set.
Following Kenaz, Kevin Delgado hits the mic. It is an incredible thing to watch. It is not even like watching a comic go through his set. With Kevin on the mic, it is more like someone just just talking to friends who happen to find him incredibly funny. There is an extremely deceptive sense of ease to what Kevin is doing on the stage tonight. There is always a danger that audiences might underestimate comics with Kevin's persona and ability. As a comic watching him, I am astounded; and a tiny bit jealous, to be honest.
Once again, the genius of the randomizer shows through as Micah Hanner is up next. Even Micah kind of riffs on it, making a joke about how it felt like Kevin had made a wardrobe change and was hitting the mic again. The connection was much more than skin deep though. While Micah couldn't quite match with Kevin on the interpersonal connection, he makes up for it with having one of the most complete on-stage personas I have come across. He wins over the audience whether they want to be won over or not, plain and simple. He effortlessly moves through his routine, showing the face that goes with each bit and never missing a beat. Each face he brings out is attention worthy, and remains distinct even after the set is done. With these distinct parts coming out in the real world, they call the funny farm. With Micah, here on the stage, it isn't much of a stretch to call him a master of the art form.
(but wait....there's more.. yeah, you know how I love call backs, especially well done ones)
It is now time for the final comic of the night, Angel Perez. Angel starts off with an off the cuff zinger about being Kevin with yet another wardrobe change. The audience surprises me by reacting very strongly to it. Without probably meaning to, Angel just made his work a little bit easier. Here, I have to say that Angel hits in a nice zone that can be described as a great mix of the strengths of the 2 prior comics. The aggressiveness of some of the bits is done so well that you do not notice that you have been set up on the large X and a well aimed punchline is dropping on you as if you were a coyote named Wiley. Then he switches gears and subjects you to a burst of charisma that makes you HAVE to respond.
This is a rare case where I kind of wish the least three comics could come up in that order again. While each comic was unique, the whole of their sets combined was what I want to experience again. I really hope that makes any kind of sense.
As Eric thanks for crowd for coming out and calls the comics up one final time, I notice something else out of the ordinary. The response overall was much more appreciative than the response to the individuals. I truly hope the comics who had harder times with the crowd noticed this as well.
After ballots are collected and they are off to be tallied, Eric once again takes the mic. What I liked about this set is that it ended up kind of focusing the audience back on the show as a whole. As I watch the crowd, it is nice to see the effect that Eric's set has. There are smiles on a couple of faces that weren't to be seen earlier. And, as the results are brought in for Eric to announce, there are bits of overheard conversation that hit on the show being better than was first realized.
Every comic on this show should be proud of the way they carried themselves in the face of a difficult crowd. I am also very glad that the crowd seemed to finally understand what a good show they just experienced.
And now, the announcements occur:
Moving on to the Wild Card Round via comic votes:
KEVIN DELGADO
Moving on to the 2nd Round via audience vote:
RENE LUNA
MICAH HANNER
ANGEL PEREZ
MIMI J. BENFIELD
And as always, a great big thank you to all of the comics tonight:
MARCUS BLYDEN
CRISS CAIN
KENAZ GRAVES
IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO SEE THESE COMICS, OR ANY OF THE OTHER COMICS COMPETING THIS YEAR, DO YOURSELF A FAVOR, GO SEE THEM. SUPPORT THE LOCAL COMEDY SCENE, LOCAL COMICS AND COMIC VENUES! IT IS WELL WORTH IT!
No comments:
Post a Comment