‘So I’m gonna tell you a story’, said the late great Max Bygraves as part of his act! I never thought I’d be quoting that on these pages – Max was my father’s favourite comedian and I thought he sucked! Yet Max’s words were prophetic and ‘storytelling’ is the new buzzword in comedy circles over here in the USA. When quizzing the very funny and talented performer-come-writer, Judy Batalion, about the New York comedy scene during my visit to the great city earlier this week, it was the storytelling phenomenon that definitely got top billing.
So how does this work? Instead of coming to a gig armed with five, 10 or 20 minutes of gag-rich material you are briefed to tell your story. It feels very much like one of my workshop exercises in practice, and is more experimental and less structured than regular stand-up. In terms of audience experience – possibly not for the cynical comedy stalwart (the Brits like their jokes) but maybe a good start for those less familiar and comfortable with live stand-up.
We got a taste of it last night when we braved the unseasonal Boston blizzard to take in the first of our shows as part of the fifth annual Women in Comedy Festival. Deliberately choosing Storytelling above a classic stand up ‘line up’ show, we settled into the studio theatre under the Charles Playhouse – a great space but noise bleed from the Blue Man show above us was a bit distracting.
10 or so women and one man (who hosted) took to the stage with their stories – and although I enjoyed most of them, tiredness and hunger meant that my concentration wavered. This may be down to format as the storytelling process meanders rather than reaching comic conclusions. That said, a few of the storytellers had a good finish, and that’s clearly where the experience comes in.
I particularly liked Melia Mills who came over from LA especially to tell her story but, I suspect, has great stand up in store as her retelling had structure and the all important great finish!
The improbably named Francoise 'Flash' Gordon has one hell of a story having been left for dead on the side of a road, only to recover her mental faculties enough to perform. Reminiscent of the UK’s Francesca Martinez who has cerebral palsy from birth, such storytelling is majestic in its brave funny-ness. More please.
Also rocking the form was Anna Roisman who’s tale of waiting tables in LA and socializing with Green Day got some real laughs, as did the jolly Aussie musings of Andrea Gibbs. Top marks to male host Ken Reid who skilfully kept up the pace and picked up the story themes to mesh the show together.
Storytelling is the long form of stand-up comedy and very much has its place in terms of developing new material, but it does lack the satisfaction factor of a more traditional comedy night for audiences. When you’re used to a punchline and it doesn’t come, it’s a bit like missing dessert after a good meal.
Lynne Parker is currently at the Women in Comedy Festival taking place in Boston until Sunday 24th March. For more details and to see how Lynne is taking part, click HERE.
Pictured top to bottom: Melia Mills, Francoise 'Flash' Gordon and Anna Roisman
