Igniting laughter from a passive audience

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on March 2nd, 2010

The headline, in the University of Wisconsin- Parkside Ranger News review is the rather cumbersome “Nationally Known Stand-Up Comic Louis Ramey Ignites Laughter from Passive UW-Parkside Audience.” And if you think that’s kinda rambly, check out this gem from author Michael Maxwell’s review of Louis Ramey’s October performance:

Ramey repeatedly made advances at the young college female audience members, even though stating that he had a girlfriend, to keep them attentive and interested, and the strategy remained effective throughout the one-hour comic skit.

We became aware of the review because Ramey himself linked to it in his most recent Facebook status update. (“I’ve got to stop doing shows at colleges,” was his weary but tongue-in-cheek statement.)

Our first impression of the review was that it sounded not unlike a police report– stilted language, odd phrasing, detailed yet oddly cryptic descriptions of familiar things. Then we began to read it like it was the impressions of a space alien who had never before seen a comedy show before, understood the cultural implications and rituals, but clearly didn’t “get” the humor because of the vast divide between his galaxy and ours.

What seemingly could possibly have been the finish of sexually charged rhetoric quickly became a humorous yet racially charged juxtaposition of the Amish tradition and American ghetto lifestyle. What was hilarious and downright original comic material was also accented by an ever-present realism, which is that America truly is a radically diverse and (hopefully less) racially turbulent atmosphere.

Consume mass quantities!!

We hate to dump on the college newsie, but it’s hysterical! (And The Male Half remembers what it was like to be an aspiring writer for a college newspaper. He assures Mr. Maxwell that there is hope that, one day, he can turn it around.)

And we admire Ramey for linking to it. He is indeed brave for bringing to light this painfully detailed account of what must have been an excruciating (if probably highly-paid) gig. Or was it excruciating? We’re not sure! And we’re not sure if Mr. Maxwell truly enjoyed it. (Although there are some indications that he did.)

We do know that we enjoy Ramey’s performance whenever we see it and that the folks at UW-P were lucky to have him!

from → News • View 1 Comment • Print-Friendly • Back To Top