At some comedy shows, the performances would die without an
audience swimming in alcohol. But at “Mortified: Angst
Written,” audiences see a show written by people who often
were not allowed near a drink.
And while few of the performers would be complimented if told
that their show seemed like it was written by prepubescent teens,
it is that characteristic that sets this comedy show apart.
“Mortified: Angst Written” started in Los Angeles
when David Nadelberg went through his old diaries and thought that
they would be funny if read on stage. Those who kept a journal as a
kid and had illusions of becoming famous when others would discover
their supposed treasure trove of brilliance in their diaries can
understand Nadelberg’s ambition.
And considering that the bimonthly show at the M Bar in
Hollywood is almost always sold out ahead of time, leaving those
without a reservation forced to stand at the bar, audiences must be
agreeing with his humor.
In early 2005, the show expanded to New York, and soon added San
Francisco and Boston to the roster. The next L.A. shows will take
place tonight and Feb. 18, and will feature a “doomed
Valentines” theme.
One of the perks of the show is that “Mortified”
features anyone from mailmen to mothers, who all read their
childhood diaries, journals, songs, schoolwork or stories, in front
of an audience of total strangers.
The problems of these people are not drastic. Some performances
are just reminders of the old-hat sex jokes that anyone could hear
at the comedy clubs several blocks down, while other performances
self-indulgently rehash the teenage-relationship drama that much of
the audience is probably already familiar with.
But this is actually part of the appeal of the show. Many
audience members have experienced the same situations and can laugh
at themselves just as much as they laugh at the overblown plight of
the performer.
The show is worth the $10 in admission, considering there are
about 10 performers per night. There is something for almost
everyone to enjoy.
If you don’t like one performer’s ambitious musical
tribute to “We are the World” (except it’s about
the space shuttle Challenger explosion), you might like the kid who
wrote a textbook about magical secrets in his journal. Or the
comically self-loathing wallflower recounting her themed, pre-teen
journals “Running is for Losers,” “Everyone is a
Liar” and “Marriage is for Suckers.” Or the
spoiled girl who thinks the world comes crashing down when her best
friend dates her crush. Or the guy who built the mundane
repetitiveness of his days to a comedic catharsis where, for
example, his highlight was when his mom brought him to Taco Bell
after dinner.
Instead of mailmen and mothers, the show in Los Angeles usually
consists of a cast of writers and actors. This is expected because
many people may not see themselves as performers, but this comedy
actually encourages anyone to audition “”mdash; not just
comedians.
That means at least one guarantee can be made: When the show is
over and the audience goes home, many may take another look at
their old journals and diaries ““ for better or for worse
““ and make it on stage for the next show.