There are three Skinny White Comics. Well, obviously not three in the world, but three at the College of Charleston’s Theatre 220. It would do you well to go see them, especially if HBO doesn’t have any Funny Man specials playing that night, and you feel in the mood for a mic and a laugh.
The ease with which these three young comics — Amy Schumer, Isaac Witty, and David Lee Nelson — approach their craft is practiced and respectable. It is easy to see them doing the same bits and getting the same laughs at comedy clubs across the country (and, in Witty’s case, on Letterman too). There is a perfect repartee with the audience. Their material is mostly straight-up observational humor. You know: the differences between men and women, the little absurdities of married life, family, religion, the occasional political rebuke.
In this lies something of a caveat to what is otherwise solid praise. If your comedic tastes seriously lean more toward the more hardcore controversial-type comedy of say, Pryor or Carlin, you might not be as enamored. These guys are more Seinfeld than Rock, more Bill Maher than Dave Chappelle. In essence, they are common white people. But very funny common white people.
Schumer bounces off the audience the most, and in the vein of Sarah Silverman (but without nearly as many no-no words), dropping clever jokes about tripping mushrooms in the Anne Frank house, as well as her conversion to Judaism through her mother’s fourth marriage. She warns against the dangers of getting drunk, post-separation, as there’s the chance that you may get depressed and desperate and end up dating someone who goes tanning. All her stuff is delivered in a killer little off-handed manner that really brings the jokes home.
David Lee Nelson’s contract with Piccolo Spoleto apparently stipulates that his once attending the College of Charleston be mentioned in all press releases. Really, it is a feather in the College’s cap. Moving about the stage like a white Gumby, Nelson has a tight delivery as he reminisces about living in the South, advocates a rather unorthodox plan for Social Security reform (hint: Granny shouldn’t just be smoking the ganja), and warns against ever calling your wife’s anti-depressants her “crazy pills.” Good advice.
Of the three, Witty is the most out there, and possesses the most bang. His is a very dry delivery, but the complete absurdity of the material complements this greatly. His warnings to us ignorant heathen: never let a two-fingered man be a church greeter; never say that you’re “losing” your hair, because people might think you’re irresponsible; don’t use the maps in the back of your Bible to get around the contemporary Middle East, and avoid using life-size fake clowns as birthday presents.
If any of this sounds like your type of comedy, you should give these white folk your money. They are sure to make you giggle.
SKINNY WHITE COMICS • Piccolo Spoleto’s Stelle Di Domani Series • $15, $12 seniors/students • May 28, 30, June 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9 at 8:30 p.m.; May 29, June 3, 6, 10 at 6:30 p.m. • Theatre 220, Simons Center, 54 St. Philip St. • 554-6060
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