Panic, People.
Am I the only one on the edge of total panic most of the time? I’m surprised I haven’t lost my shit, like at all, in terms of panic. Not in years really. It must be because I’m older and I know how to stop it before it takes over. It is just right there, like right next to me or just on the periphery of my consciousness.
It’s become difficult to believe that things will ever get better ever again.
The data is in. It looks like all we can do is adapt to the disasters we’ve caused on almost all fronts. It doesn’t matter how much you crave a happy ending or even just a mundane ending. It guarantees nothing. I know, we do what we can, but it's starting to become apparent it’s probably not enough.
From a recent notebook: Whatever we’ve become, we’ve done it together and no amount of accountability is going to change that.
So, what is my responsibility as an ‘entertainer?' Is it to provide relief? Enforce deniability? Frame the truth as I see it in a painfully dark, funny way? I’m going with the last one. It’s always been what I do. On some level I always thought and assumed that I was wrong and weird for thinking the way I do. It turns out I’m not wrong and the only weird thing is I say it aloud and try to make it funny so I can fucking deal and maybe that will help you.
I drove out to Phoenix for my two shows at Standup Live. The next evolution of the 1:15 I seem to be landing at. Which is perfect. Taking it from the supportive safety of Dynasty Typewriter into the subterranean old school Comedy Works in Denver to the corporate style big room of Standup Live. It was great!
Making the show vax only made the audience feel better. Because Phoenix is sort of a hot crucible of political dumbfuckery and righty theatrics, the shows felt like secret meetings of the reasonable and clear-headed.
I have real questions about my approach when I perform for mainstream audiences. I cannot generalize or stereotype too much. It’s all very personal. So, audiences will have to relate to me or enjoy the fact that they don’t. I can't speak for ‘guys’ or share like I’m exactly like anyone else. I think that’s part of the problem. The celebration of surfaces.
Today I talk to Marlon Wayans, who is my co-star in Respect. We have fun. Comics busting balls. Also acting talk and Wayans family riffing. On Thursday I have an amazing talk with Liesl Tommy who directed Respect about coming from South Africa and growing up in Newton, MA and how theater defined who she became. Great talks.
Enjoy!
Boomer, Monkey and LaFonda live!
Love,
Maron