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Elayne Boosler in Concert
Elayne Boosler’s concert on Feb. 23 at the Carolina Theater in Durham, N.C.
was an
opportunity to enjoy an old pro in action. “I’m seventy-four years old.” she
joked, “But I look good.” I thought she also looked good for her real age of
forty-nine.
With a display of energy and insight, Elayne provided solid laughs for
well over an hour. Her show was very well paced, starting slowly and
building
nicely to several peaks. Elayne slowed things down three times to take
audience questions which personalized her presentation and gave the audience
a little breather from her otherwise quickly paced banter.
I wish I had recommended the show to my stand-up comedy class at Charlie
Goodnight’s. One thing I try to impress upon students is the importance of
being likable on stage ... not to mention the rest of the time. Although
Elayne’s material can be quite sarcastic, her style is warm and friendly and
it’s effect on the audience was evident.
Along with her amiable style, her likability was bolstered by, and to a
great extent due to, her effective use of self-deprecating humor. Her
stand-up routine is a great example of how poking fun at oneself shows
humility and helps foster a positive and excepting attitude from others.
Some of her funniest material dealt with eating and dieting struggles. For
example, she said food labels were too confusing and should simply tell it
like it is, Hagendaz . . . “Butt Extender.” Or . . . “Hips Agrowing.”
She gained a lot of weight right before she and her long time boyfriend
broke
up, so she went on the “New guys are going to see my body naked” diet.
Also very well received were her jokes about the sexual differences
between men and women. Rather than “male bashing,” she targeted fairly
evenly between the sexes. She said, “Women are looking for ...someone. They
just want someone. Men want to get really, really, really close to someone
...who will leave them alone.
Elayne talked about the double standard men and women have; how proud
men
are of their big guts and how ashamed women are if they gain the slightest
amount of weight. A guy will proudly declare how he’s going shopping for a
new suit down at the store for Big, Tall, Fat Bastards.
Women, on the other hand, shop at stores like The Clothes Barn and Another
Dimension.
In a very funny bit about the beach she discussed how strange it is that
we go sit in a pile of dirt, covered with oil, in hundred degree weather on
a
wool blanket! With a wonderful little geese-like honk, she mimicked how guys
crudely blow their noses and spit as they emerge from the water. Then she
asked us to imagine women doing the same thing and then, in a study of
contrast, gave us a sample of how quietly some women blow their nose. She
went on to observe how women’s bathing caps look like a bald head with a
flower.
Boosler delivered her material with passion and a strong attitude, which
helped to make it even funnier. There was never a sense of hostility or
animosity. She became serious only when discussing her work for animal
rights. She also conveyed genuine conviction while delivering some of her
political bits, leaving no doubt that her voice was a liberal one.
Boosler displayed some good vocal sounds as she mimicked men, women and
lambs. Saving her best voice of the night for the finale, Elayne acted out
how she had sung the Nation Anthem at a baseball game where the delayed
stadium echo made it impossible to hear what she was singing. This funny
closer showcased her singing ability and a very fine voice... especially for
a seventy-four year old.
To become a member of the Carolina Health & Humor Association, give a gift membership, register to attend the Certified Humor Presenter Workshops, or donate to the Carolina Health & Humor Association, please use the Membership/Registration form.
Ruth Hamilton
105 West Hwy. 54, Suite 265
Durham, NC 27713
Phone:(919)846-5739, fax(919)544-9627
e-mail: cahaha@mindspring.com
Web address: http://www.carolinahaha.org
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