Blue Monday

I dropped by Comedy Bar on Monday for some chuckles but it was a scarcity. The JokeBox hosted some local comics as well as two "lottery spots" for anyone brave enough to put their name into the jar. Host Natalie Norman introduced the acts and riffed on her lazy eye, current dating situation, and New Year's resolution. Joshua Elijah told jokes that, coincidentally, involve people who were missing fingers. Action Slacks improvised a low-key bachelor party, Steven Boleantu was The Shoddy Magician whose every magic trick eventually resulted in the appearance of a man's tie, and The Real True News did a much dirtier version of SNL's Weekend Update.

The headliners were Two Weird Ladies who combined some old skits from their Fringe hit (gossipy mavens, talentless office drones) with some new material (a shoplifter with high-end tastes). The evening was a bust as everyone was flat with long stretches of dead silence from the audience. It was interesting to note how casually misogyny was invoked: gendered insults, emasculation and feminization fears, and "slut-shaming". I understand why a female friend refuses to go to most comedy shows.