Boston is Funny
Joe on June 19th, 2010 | Filed under People
It’s something of a mystery why there are so many funny people who come from the Boston area. The urban setting provides endless stimulation for a comic mind, surely, but there’s so much influence from the history of the place, that it seems built for raising kids who walk a stern path. But the presence of comedians here is rather overwhelming, which suggests that there is a lot of room for deep maladjustment here. From Deni Leary to Conan O’Brien, the evidence of maladjustment is very clear, but there’s none who bears the mark so distinctly as Steven Wright .
Despite a long career that demonstrates an obsession with absurdity and the everyday melancholy of the world, he was the first inductee to the Boston Comedy Hall of Fame, which might mean that he can speak for the city, although it is a remarkably uninflected speech.
In no uncertain terms, his creative output has all the marks of real genius, and he’s been driving the sternest of audiences to their knees with laughter. He grew up in the Boston area, a shy kid , who liked baseball and was anxious about talking to girls. In a venue that was sometimes a Chinese restaurant, and sometimes a comedy club, he caught the attention of just the right people, and history started calling quite clearly.
He ignored the call, and kept doing his stand-up routine, perfecting the monotone delivery that made it impossible not to laugh. It was also a brilliant move, making the audience do half the work, and in comedy, if someone can get the crowd to think while they’re listening, it’s a perfect opening.
These are the kinds of talented minds that keep people coming to town, looking for laughs and time at a boutique hotel. Boston, USA has a daunting and fascinating history, and these stand-up voices are shaping it into new forms and new directions.
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