NYC-based comedian Alex Edelman's comedy special
Just for Us, about that time he, a Jewish man, attended a White Nationalist meeting in Queens, won both a Special Tony Award and an Emmy Award (it's available on Max, where I watched it). A comedy show may seem like an odd choice for a theater, but it's really less of a stand-up show than it is a solo storytelling show, like you may see at a fringe festival. And in fact, it debuted at Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2018. Six Points Theater's Artistic Director Barbara Brooks has inquired about the rights for years, so when they finally became available (after Alex performed it over 500 times), Six Points became the first theater in the country to produce it. And #TCTheater artist Ryan London Levin became the first actor to perform it, other than the playwright. It's a brilliantly written piece (don't just take my word for it - ask the Emmy and Tony voters!), confronting some really ugly parts of our world with humor and honesty. Ryan gives a fantastic performance (you'd never know it was his first solo show), and I really can't imagine anyone else in the role (other than Alex, of course). This show is really funny and engaging, using laughter as a weapon against bigotry and hate. I think the world could use a little more of that.
See it at Highland Park Community Center now through November 10.
