The Sausage Party

[commonpeople1]

It was an unusually beautiful Sunday in London, the likes we haven't seen this summer. So, of course, Kevin and I filled our thermos with coffee, grabbed some books and a bedsheet, then headed for Victoria Park for a bit of sunshine. Lying on the grass, listening to my new iPod, watching a young boy play football with his father and grandfather, it dawned on me - and I know this is trite - how little time we have for anything: we'll never get to read all the books we want, hear all the great music recorded, watch all the top notch films, attend all parties, dance in all night clubs, kiss all the beautiful boys, swim in all oceans and seas... you get the picture. The New Yorker has a podcast in its arts section where an author, each month, reads a short story by another author. Where am I gonna find the time to listen to these, on top of all the other things I want/need to do? (I still haven't cracked open the two gay mags I bought in Paris, for example.)

This existential drama played in my head as I reflected on my two social engagements yesterday. I had a housewarming party in Walthamstow with friends and, across town, a ticket for some stand-up comedy. I tried to do both - and it worked out fine - but it left me feeling at the end of the night that I didn't get enough of anything.

I brought vodka to suzi's housewarming (also known as The One Girl And A Whole Lot Of Blokes Party), drank pina coladas and cheap lager, answered the hostess' mobile phone and intercom in my best impression of her, laughed a good deal and was hitting my stride when the clock hit midnight 7.30pm and I had to dash out. (Did any of you witness my near fall when I stumbled down the step?) I'm particularly sad I missed out on the magic cookies...

Suzi has a great terrace just off her studio (which is a charming little lodging that reminds me of a cottage) with plenty of space for BBQs and social interaction. If there were firecrackers, we would have lit them; if there were banners, we would have waved them; if there was a snogging line, craig would have been first in line since he's the primary one. See... just thinking about the general silliness, the drunken text messages I exchanged with the party goers afterwards, makes me regret missing the rest of the party (and the ones who arrived when I was leaving/gone).

The 99 Club, temporarily housed in a pub just off Tottenham Court Road, hosted routines by Holly Walsh and Paul Foot. My experience with stand-up comedy (years and years ago) has been that there's usually one or two good performances, and a whole load of mistakes and deadly silence from the audience. Last night was generally great, with both acts delivering really good routines (they lucked out with the crowd). I didn't know this until afterwards but Paul Foot is a bit of a celebrity (he was even on an American TV show, Last Comic Standing.) There was a group of teenage boys right at the front who got teased mercilessly by him (they loved it). Afterwards, Paul joined us (he knows Sissy Jen and her fiancee) for some late drinks and food; we ran into the teenage boys and they fawned all over Paul as if he was the Second Coming. He suggested we go for omelettes at the Laguna Cafe, a dive just across the street from the Astoria, after he dispatched his fans but, oh boy, he must have really regretted that suggestion! He ran away from our belligerent selves as soon as he'd scoffed that omelette and downed his Coke.

Comments

[desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com]

I think I saw Paul Foot on part of the Last Comic Standing but can't remember whether I thought he was funny or not. I wish greatly to attend a party with you, something less grand than that we attended in Brazil, something slightly more grand than my birthday party.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Paul Foot got to the finals I believe. Then the Texan chick beat him. Apparently she wasn't as funny as him though.

[idioticpoet.livejournal.com]

so, is Suzi the pretty woman in your picture?

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Yes she is. She's single too, in case you are interested. ;-)

[rag-and-bone.livejournal.com]

TOO CUTE.
and my experience with comedy has been equally horrific: the last time s. and i went, we were the only two people in the audience laughing (hysterically) at one woman, and completely OFFENDED by everyone else.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

See, I'd never get offended - I can't imagine anyone being able to press those buttons on me. I'd get annoyed though if I thought someone was being offensive for offensiveness sake.

I hardly ever see stand-up comedy though. The last time, before Saturday, was ten years ago!

[rag-and-bone.livejournal.com]

comedy is hard for me. i want to be a person who can enjoy it, but i oftentimes find it so crass and cruel. to be funny, it seems stand up comics think that they have to be mean. they have to talk shit about someone or another--whether it's women or gay people or asian people or the elderly. something always sets me off when i see live comedy. luckily, outside of watching people perform for laughs, i have a great love of What Is Funny. because i find that people are much funnier and much more respectful in real life conversations. the best, least-offensive comedy is the unrehearsed kind, in my opinion.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

How do you feel about comedians when they are mean to people like religious extremists, homophobes, right-wing nutters etc? I quite like that kind of humour! I take pleasure in the sense that it feels like the comedian is mixing a righteous battle with a good joke. But I agree with you that unrehearsed jokes are usually the best, especially if they come from friends hanging out together.

[rag-and-bone.livejournal.com]

hm. i haven't responded to this yet because it confused me/made me think and i needed time to sort through my feelings!

i think that what offends me about comedy is that people always make fun of each other for what they can't change. for what is [assumed] intrinsic to them. ie, gayness, body type or race. but when people make fun of other people for interests or beliefs, that might be funnier (it's been a long time since i've seen a standup comic, much less one who didn't offend me, so i'm taking the "might" route here).