In one of comedian Lisa Lampanelli’s concert videos, she addresses a smartly–dressed lady in the front row. “Women like her usually hate me,” Lampanelli says, “because I’m dirty, I’m loud, I’m rude. There’s always those soccer mom types who come to see me, hoping I’ll be a ‘female comic’ who talks about PMS and dating.”
Not a chance. Lampanelli, a veteran road comic, is Don Rickles–mean and Redd Foxx–blue. Or, like insult champ Jackie Mason, who calls himself “an equal opportunity offender.”
Lampanelli rides the rude into town for an April 15 show at the Lucas Theatre. Tickets, $39.75, go on sale Friday, Feb. 18 at scadboxoffice.com, or at (912) 525–5050.
The “Queen of Mean,” who published an autobiography (Chocolate, Please: My Adventures in Food, Fat and Freaks) once explained things this way: “I can get away with it because I’m a nice person, I have a warm personality, my intention is good behind it.
“The thing is, people sense when you have the least bit of anger or hate towards a group – that’s why you never make fun of people you don’t like.”
See www.insultcomic.com.
Stage news
• City Lights’ planned production of A Madrigal in Moonlight, scheduled for this weekend at the City’s S.P.A.C.E. black box, has been postponed indefinitely.
• Hot on the high heels of the Drama Bums production of Eve Ensler’s The Good Body, Bay Street Theatre reprises its production of the author’s most famous work, The Vagina Monologues, Feb. 25–27. Tickets are at www.clubone–online.com.
• Aldersgate United Methodist Church is doing a dinner theater production of the one–act comedy Fourteen March 3–5; the March 6 matinee performance includes dessert and beverage only. Call (912) 897–3866 for reservations.
• The amazing Karla Knudson will star as Emily Dickinson in the Collective Face production of William Luce’s The Belle of Amherst, March 24–26 at Muse Arts Warehouse. See www.collectiveface.org.
Celtic Woman
A reminder that the fair lasses of Celtic Woman return to the Johnny Mercer Theatre Monday (Feb. 21) for a show at 7:30 p.m.
Celtic Woman was envisioned - seriously! - as a sort of all-Irish Spice Girls, drawing on the Gaelic musicianly charm and ethereal female magic of the insanely popular Riverdance. Like many contemporary Irish touring acts, the group came about as the result of sharp-eyed promoters and musical directors taking note of America’s seemingly endless fascination with all things Irish.
Celtic Woman, to be sure, is a musically sound unit (both Orla Fallon and Hayley Westenra are past members). And the group is a PBS pledge-drive favorite, don’t you know.
One more thing: Cathie Ryan, one of the headliners at this weekend’s Savannah Irish Festival, was for many years part of a similar group, called Cherish the Ladies.
That, we most certainly do.
