The Jim and returned from our date night out to see our favorite comedian from Chelsea Lately, John Caparulo. We've loved his delivery from the first time we've seen him and have enjoyed seeing some of his older work from the Wild West Comedy Tour and his solo shows on Comedy Central. He's kinda like the "every man" that you'd just wanna hang out with. He's the guy you hung out with when you were a kid and you still think is cool now that you've grown up. I was pretty excited to get to see him in a full dose of comedy and was really not disappointed.
Initially, the Jim was not thrilled that I got what I called the "proctology exam" seats - front and center; but blessedly John does not really do a lot of crowd-interaction comedy. In fact, there were only a rare amount of times he made eye contact with the audience, but don't let that fool you...he's engaging and will draw you in as he weaves his stories of airline travel (which the Jim and I appreciated since that describes our whole first year of dating), his dog/s, his life now in LA and his roots in Ohio. I think that's why I appreciate him. Coming from Pennsylvania, there's a similarity between the Ohio and non-metro PA experience I think. He's funny, occasionally self-deprecating but not to an annoying degree, and just overall entertaining.
I must admit, when he did make eye contact with myself or another audience member it was based on that mutual moment of recognition that you "get" what he's talking about. Those moments sealed the deal. Add to that, he was very open to meeting his fans after the show and snapping some photos. I must admit, for someone who far more appreciates the hard worker without all the flashy accoutrements, spending time with John Caparulo makes you feel good. It's nice to see a nice guy who's working hard at his craft and having both fun and success at the same time. I know that Knoxville isn't the coolest place to be, but you'd think he treated you to an LA show. I love seeing the good guys finish first. Bravo John!
Today was a whirlwind day for me professionally. I'm working to build something that coordinates my dreams and ambitions with my current activities, likes and passions. I'm building an ability to produce a (now bi-monthly), night of variety entertainment held at a local venue here in Knoxville.
I've wanted to own my own club for years, however I'm very particular about the way I want it to look, feel and be. In some ways, I'd make a perfect Disney Imagineer. I want theming and people to have an EXPERIENCE not just a night out. So I'm building it...slowly and choosing soooo carefully.
You see, my husband, the Jim stands by me on my crazy dreams. He's pragmatic at times and frankly that's what I need. Most importantly he understands now why I want and NEED to pursue these creative dreams and visions. In fact, I'm really excited about moving forward on a dream at least a little bit.
As my performance artist persona, I will be hostessing and producing THE CHEESE SHOP (Speakeasy/Cabaret), here in Knoxville starting at the Old City Entertainment Venue in...where else? The old city! While it's not mine, the two men who head up the venue, Ray and Jason have been 100% supportive of me holding a night of real variety in the upstairs section of their club which is reminiscent of a SPEAKEASY at least in feeling. It's intimate and that's what I really want, an intimate experience for my guests and a chance to have some AMAZING local/regional entertainers connect with potential fans who maybe didn't know they existed. I want a true artist and art-lover relationship to develop. I want to help make connections. I want to promote entertainers who deserve to be promoted.
[On a side note, if you visit the link to the website above, you have to find your way onto the MAIN page by figuring out a few links on the opening page that will get you into the SPEAKEASY. It's fun and I enjoy a good puzzle.]
Now the first question I get, is WHY do you call it THE CHEESE SHOP? Well, back in the era of prohibition a lot of the speakeasies had faux store-fronts or were in the basement or back/allies of other places. Like a dry cleaning establishment where, if you brought red socks in meant you knew it was a front for a speakeasy and you'd get ushered in to the back room to drink and be merry on the down-low. I'm a huge Monty Python fan (as a previous posting notes), and one of the first sketches I ever saw/heard from the talented troupe was their "cheese shop sketch". Which I'll show you...NOW:
While the cheese shop in the sketch was not a front for a speakeasy, it's along the lines of what I'm aiming for. I want you to believe you're coming to a CHEESE SHOP but make people "in the know" by featuring a particular cheese each month as the password. Will there be cheese? Blessedly, OLD CITY Entertainment Venue sells a really fabulous cheese plate - so yes, in a way there will be. It's also called the cheese shop, because...well I'm a pretty cheesy person. Own it and be who you are!
So under THE CHEESE SHOP (Speakeasy/Cabaret) name, every other month - I am featuring a collection of local performers of all different styles and types to introduce Knoxville to! I'm blessed to know so many of them personally and that even makes me more excited...because I really know what they are capable of and I can't wait to see them under the same roof and sharing the same stage.
Now, the reason today was such a whirlwind was because I had to push back the OPENING NIGHT to July 28th, 2011 because of a work commitment that I couldn't control. I was so happy to catch everything in time before the printer made my flyers and I've been blessed that all my performers and staff are able to adjust to the new opening night.
Another reason that I wanted to do this was for Knoxville...I believe in Knoxville's open-ness to explore all varieties of performing and visual arts. Mostly, I wanted to cater to people who want a REAL night out without having to pay big money and get home so late that they couldn't function at work the next day. So I made my night, $10.00 (tickets on sale for $8.00 through June), doors will open at 7 PM and the whole night will be over by 10:30 - 11:00 PM. Time to get home and get to bed. Reasonable for everyone and with a real class-it-up feel. Please spread the word and if you're a FACEBOOKER, please consider "LIKING" us. It helps us know what we're building makes sense and will have a place here in our fair city.
It's a dream come true and it will be a full reality for me SOON.
Wow.
I cannot believe what I'm about to write right now. I've been a Monty Python fan for over 20 years and I still absolutely adore the gents and beauty that make them a sweet sampling of sketch comedy genius...but I'm now coming to terms with aging as a Python-fan. The existential MP crisis has occurred as a result of going to see the musical production of "SPAMALOT" that just finished it's brief touring stop here in Knoxville. I know the premise builds upon "The Holy Grail" film and mixes the old with new humor...so I was prepared for anything and frankly had fewer expectations that I normally do. Sadly, I left the theater feeling flat; and that, my dear friends was far from what I thought would happen.
I found Monty Python after a late night at age 15. I was watching MTV which used to show primarily music videos (remember that?), and occasionally late in the evenings they would present a British comedy to just shake things up a bit. I had already been introduced to and become a fan of "The Young Ones"...so I was game to see what else the Brits could deliver. When VJ Mark Goodman announced that late night, that "Monty Python's Flying Circus" was coming up next - I immediately went to the literal thoughts. "Oh, is this going to be like 'Circus of the Stars'?" I had no idea. Understandably as the opening portion of John Phillip Sousa's march entitled "The Liberty Bell" played, I was really confused. There were no trapeze artists or recognizable stars. In fact, the show was "old" and as a teenager, at first blush I didn't appreciate that. However, as the show progressed and I waited for someone to tame a lion or walk a tightrope; I found myself laughing and becoming more engrossed in these funny British gentlemen and their seemingly both silly and surreal humor. After the "penguin on the telly" sketch. I was officially hooked. 100%. I was a Python-fan; and I did, what most fans of Python do. I overdosed.
Over the years that followed, I watched every episode of The Flying Circus I could (often multiple times). I would go down to my local Mom and Pop video rental shop and check out every film that the troupe had to offer. I started with "Life of Brian", then "The Holy Grail", "And Now for Something Completely Different" followed by what was to become my favorite Python film of all time, "The Meaning of Life." I had their instant record collection and proudly marched around my parent's home singing "Sit on My Face" because I found it salacious, silly and so much fun. As a non-rebellious (much), girl...Python was intelligent, hilarious and bawdy at times. Perfect!
I could quote and riff a routine like a pro from age 16 through age 26. I read every book, as they experienced a resurgence and I learned everything I could about each individual player within the troupe. I became particularly enchanted with Michael Palin and had a fondness for Eric Idle that had nothing to do with his looks. In some ways, Python did for me what they did for George Harrison of the Beatles. They came along at a time in my life that was depressing and confusing, and they really made me not take life seriously and helped me laugh a lot. I needed them back then, and they really gave me far more than the amount of money I spent on anything they could produce. As much as I lament past relationships, they did serve a purpose in introducing me to good people and I appreciate the connections I made as a fan of MP. They really can bring people together and they still do.
This time, however, they brought us together with a number of Knoxvillians in the grand, Tennessee Theater for a night of Python produced fun (well, mostly Eric Idle produced fun), and I was sadly...disappointed. Perhaps it was because it lacked some of the surrealism or genuine punch of the Flying Circus sketches. It was still intelligent, but more mass-marketable...it was, for me...bland. So many people brought young children, which confused me like it did when I went to see "The Kids in the Hall" at the Tower Theater in Philly. Do these people not realize, this is going to get a little risque or vulgar? I mean, that's part of the Python appeal. Sure enough, they delivered a few cringe worthy moments that parents may have to answer questions about, but for the most part I found all the children fidgety and overly stimulated. On top of that, was the tradition of people reciting the familiar lines over and over and over; which, when you're trying to enjoy a production that is already difficult to hear due to some lack-luster sound - just make it more...eh.
Don't get me wrong, there were a couple of great zingers in the show and they even brought in the element of troublesome local politics here in Knoxville (which got applause from the Jim); but seeing this made me realize that I like PYTHON. The PYTHON. I like John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin and the wonderful Carol Cleveland. I like that occasionally they re-tread over familiar territory for us fans. I like more that they tell their story now, and make us feel more involved in their former process. However, Python is best (and I still love them deeply), when they are freshest to us as a viewer. When you're first delving into the world of MP, it's all so wacky and new that you feel just like you did when you started dating that super cute, witty, skinny boy that you met outside of your British Literature class. He's charming and foreign, and you wanna know more. As an older Python fan, you become more like the old married couple...you start to grow weary of the same stories your significant other tells you over and over again and you just hope that occasionally there will be some addition to the mix that will spice it all up again.
While perchance, the original SPAMALOT cast of Tim Curry, David Hyde Pierce and more may have helped add that rush of adrenaline, for the most part I found myself entertained but ready to go home for a nice pot of Piston Engine soup. Perhaps, I'm just getting old and daft like one of the Pepperpot ladies. If so, I need a nap. In the meantime, I will go and watch the originals, younger, bolder and full of spunk as they did their early craft to confuse those as the BBC. I think perhaps in my MTV-conditioned ADD state, I prefer their sketch comedy which was what the original show was all about and was heavily featured in "The Meaning of Life", much like I like Stephen King's short stories. I like bite-sized entertainment, being tickled by a television-based tapas of talking twits. So, in reflecting back, I think I'll crack open an episode of The Flying Circus my friends and return to that original feeling of wild abandon. Who knows...it might inspire you live with more silliness, surreality and, well, "you know what I mean, nudge nudge."
