  Comedy
This week: Stand-Up Comedy? Edited by: Sssssh! I'm not really here.  
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After binge-watching the first season of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," I tried to imagine what it would be like to do what she did. |
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A few times in my life someone would make the suggestion that I’d make a fine stand-up comic. Hmm, I thought about that and thought it would be fun. But then, I said to myself, “are you crazy WebWitch?” After all, making people laugh isn’t an easy task. Plus, one must be consistent in producing chuckles in order to be successful.
Recently, I watched The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, on Amazon Prime. I heard a comment about it on a radio talk show, and it sounded interesting for a comedy witch to watch. So I did! Besides loving it from the first episode, I also learned a lot about the life of a stand-up comic, at least through the eyes of Hollywood. Mrs. Miriam “Midge” Maisel is an energy packed battery of humor that comes naturally to her as it is based on her life with her parents, husband, in-laws and kids. Family becomes real life props not by design, but merely because they are the center of her life and so much drama unfolds.
She is the picture perfect 1950s Jewish wife and mother, living in the upper west side of New York City. She keeps up with her appearance doing her exercises and measuring her ankles on up to make sure her body isn't thickening anywhere. She has a nighttime routine of not removing her make-up after going to bed until her husband falls asleep. She then slips out of bed, removes her make-up, places her hair in rollers, and applies a generous helping of facial cream before finally retiring for the night. She lifts the bedroom shade slightly, so the rising sun would awaken her and she repeats the process in reverse -- wash the cream off, remove the rollers, coif her hair and apply her make-up. She then slips back into bed as the alarm clock awakens her husband. Midge is the epitome of the old proverb, “You cannot wake a person pretending to be asleep.” She is awakened by her husband, and remarks about sleeping through the alarm clock, yet again.
The funny thing about all of this is that her husband’s dream is to be a stand-up comic. He works his regular job and at night, goes to a little bar called, Gaslight Café, where people get up and perform their routines from poetry recitals, to magic acts, as well as comedy routines. Joel Maisel pretty much bombs out with his stale and stolen comedy routines. Midge tries hard to get him a time slot at the bar, with her beef brisket bribes. The manager asks her where the latkes are. She had to confess she did not include them but would do so for a better time slot for her husband, next time.
This gives you an idea of Midge’s background, not a full history, but merely a brief intro. The part that drives Mrs. Maisel to her unexpected career is her husband Joel leaving her. He tells Midge that he is having an affair with his secretary while he's packing his belongings. After the initial shock of the news and watching Joel pack, she blurts out: “That’s my suitcase. You going to leave me with my suitcase?”
Midge indulged in a bottle of wine and was more than a bit tipsy when she hopped on a bus, wearing her negligee under her coat and headed to Gaslight Café. In her inebriated state, took to the stage and ranted about her husband leaving her, their marriage and two kids for his secretary. She repeated her disappointment and shock of being replaced by a secretary named, Penny Pan, exclaiming, “You’ve heard about the shorthand girls? These are girls whose skill in life is not writing full sentences.” And Midge's further disdain for Penny is emphasized ... "Do you know I've seen her twice with her shirt on inside out? Penny. Twice. Once, fine. You were rushed in the morning. Twice, you can only be trusted to butter people's corn at the county fair."
During that first drunken act, Midge exposes her breasts to the audience, to show what her husband is giving up to be with Ms. Pan, which resulted in her first arrest. Yes, she did get arrested another time -- another performance, and still under the influence. She even commented to Suzie, her masculine-dressing manager, after she bombed during one of her more sober acts, that she didn't think she could perform without drugs or alcohol.
The dialogue between her and the various cast of characters adds to the humor of this show. Midge is a multi-dimensional person. Her character keeps the reader wondering what hilarious scene will be next.
If you haven’t seen The Marvelous Mrs. Maizel, yet, you should really take a look at it. Comedy lines are abundant throughout the show by the colorful characters just being themselves.
Perhaps I could fill a 10 minute stage time-spot. I've certainly had a lifetime of humorous events. And, I've often said that my life is a joke, and God put me here to make Him laugh ... there's always that edge.  However, after watching what a stand-up comic goes through trying to break into the stage life -- I must rethink the whole, “I’d like to try that,” idea.
I leave you with some Jewish humor, quotes and jokes from the episodes.
After her husband announces he's leaving her for his secretary:
"Midge: Penny?! The girl who couldn't even figure out a pencil sharpener?
Joel: It was a new sharpener...
Midge: It was electric! All she had to do was push!"
Midge doing a comedy routine at a dinner party:
"Midge: Me, personally, I was never great at gift-giving. Maybe it’s because I never got to celebrate Christmas. I got Hanukkah. Doesn’t exactly prepare you the same way. For Christmas, a gentile would get a bike as a reminder that their parents love them. For Hanukkah, we would get socks as a reminder that we were persecuted.
After Midge found Joel's new address, she brings their son over to him for his weekend visit with his father, Penny answers the door:
Midge to Joel: You know, it’s funny. I thought I’d find you squatting in some downtown smoke-filled atelier, not two blocks away, living the Methodist version of our life. With the Methodist version of me […] You know what’s funny? I don’t have my apartment anymore. You have my apartment. You have a lot of my things, actually. You’re welcome. [Timer dings] Dinner?
Penny: Yes.
Midge: What?
Penny: Pot roast.
Midge [turning to Joel]: The Methodist version of brisket.
[...]
Midge: You said you didn’t want our life. But this is our life. You didn’t go somewhere exotic or different, you went across the [expletive] street […] Tell Ethan I’ll pick him up tomorrow. Don’t baptize him while I’m gone.
Midge and her father talk about her marital situation:
Abe: "Life isn't fair. It's hard and cruel. You have to pick your friends as if there's a war going on. You want a husband who'll take a bullet for you, not one who points to the attic and says "They're up there."
It’s a wrap for this edition of the Comedy Newsletter
Until next time--laugh hard, laugh often!
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Lilith of House Martell 
Loved this newsletter, thank you!!! You've given me the motivation to get out today and hunt for discounted tree ornaments to revamp my tree for next year!
 You go girl! Good luck with your very own after-Christmas hunt. You'll be so happy when the season comes around again, that you got all those usually hefty-priced ornaments for a portion of the price. Got to love it! May the rest of your 2018 go smoothly. 
Monty 
I got the last box with the H and it was a little beat looking, Figured something would be wrong with it.... But all was perfect. Lucky me. Happy New Year.
 So YOUR the one who took my tree?!!! Oh, Monty -- Vermont to Florida just to get the last perfect tree? I salute you, my man!  Keep up the competitive spirit and do the "hunt" proud! 
papadoc1
Goodness. My oh my. I am now at the time of this reviewing, approx. 15 pounds heavier, sated quite, and thinking that at this point, if I hear another Christmas Carol, I'll probably yark somewhere in the corner. Enough! Naturally, I was busy this year, "sampling" Christmas cookies by the THOUSANDS, giving my expert opinion upon which cookie, in the throes of death by consumption, tasted best. Naturally, Webbie, your cookies came out at the very top of the list! SO FOLKS, what a time we all had! Martha was perfectly at home doing what she does best, and yes, keeping the 'ol girl around certainly made optimal sense in every respect. As for the cookies, all I can say is.......Cookie Assassin 819 - Cookies 0 !!!!!! Happy New Year sweetcakes!!
 Reason number one of why I don't bake cookies often. Happy 2018, Doc! 
Quick-Quill 
Falling in the winter isn't funny for the person falling, but the body in movement, trying to prevent a BAD fall can be comical. A larger woman in slippers left the FedX office to go to her car last winter. I tried to help her, but her feet went out and down she slipped. The funniest part to me was when two of us tried to lift her to a position she could stand up. Not happening. She scooted a couple of feet to her car door. The ice smooth from cars diving over it and the sun beginning the melting process didn't aide us. My helper was a middle aged man, of about 5ft 7" and 170 pounds. I'm 2 inches shorter and a 30 + pounds heavier. Balancing our center of gravity and helping to get her pulled up next to her car was a chore. Keeping my bubbling laughter and what we looked like to those in the stores next to us, was more of a strain. We accomplished the feat and got her inside the car and on her way. I got into my car and laughed til I wept.
 Actually, years ago a similar situation happened. A few of us had just come out of the local live theater, and an older woman walking in front of us fell on the icy sidewalk, did a slip sliding away dance for a few seconds and then went down. Her poor husband tried so hard to get her to her feet, but with no luck. Quickly, my husband and uncle jumped in to lend a hand in getting the woman to her feet. It all ended well, thankfully. But I can imagine how embarrassed the lady felt after that whole ordeal.  And yes, it is comical while in action. It's the type of comedy that you don't want to laugh when it's happening, hold the urge until you're about to burst out, and make it to the car and then laugh uncontrollably. (Mind you, the woman was well padded and not physically hurt.) I think it took us ten minutes to regain our composure before my uncle put the car in gear and moved away from the curb.
Thank you for your feedback, folks! We editors really appreciate it. 
See you next month!
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Comedy: January 24, 2018 Issue [#8717]
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