 |
| Kevin Maher is LONE DRIFTER |
Recently I was profiled as a star of "new vaudeville" -- which is a very nice thing to say. Most anyone who visits this site is probably more familiar with my "geek out" theme nights and writings on popular culture. (Or you came here searching for images of Soleil Moon Frye.)
But I started as a solo-comedy artist (aka an "alternative comedian")
Today's entry will look back my 2001 solo show LONE DRIFTER. (see below, there's video and photos.)
But first, I need to talk about two New York City institutions that were essential to my development:
Surf Reality and the UNDER St. Marks
Both spaces fulfilled New York's promise of the possibility of theater. I'm not one to romanticized my past, but I saw and participated in some one-of-a-kind shows at those spaces. And I'd hate to think of what my youth would've been like without them.
Today the UNDER St. Marks needs your help. Learn more here.
As for my show, I set out to do an anti-one-man show. I wanted to skewer the cliches and present sketch comedy bits with the gravitas of legit theatre.
Some of the pieces were grotesque pseudo-psycho monologues in the spirit of Jim Thompson novels. Many of the characters were decidedly not "likable" (probably not the best approach for a new comedian), I followed Joe Coleman's approach to painting -- he said every grotesque image is a self-portrait, he finds himself in each one. (see below) I tried to do the same with my comedy.
