STAND-UP HELL: A COMEDIAN, A HECKLER . . . AND A GUN
Ross Bennett, a stand-up comic portraying himself (sort of) at Zanies in his play Stand-Up Hell: A Comedian, a Heckler . . . and a Gun, follows in that tradition of yuppie angst and self-effacement. Approaching 40, having never made it big, unsuccessful in his relationships with family members and significant others, Bennett spills his guts in the standard patter of autobiographical anecdotes and one-liners that mask a wrenching inner pain. His talent lies not so much in brilliant wit and humor as it does in mimicking the precise comic timing of other, more successful comedians: they know that to succeed you have to begin your act with “How’re you doing?” conclude with “Thanks very much, good night,” and insert the word “dick” somewhere in between.
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A further problem is Rich Talarico’s performance as the heckler. Forced to play straight man even after he’s been shot and unable to overcome the improbabilities of his character, Talarico delivers a thuddingly wooden performance. Bennett comes off better; after all, they’re his jokes, and he certainly convinces us that he’s the sort of comic who could snap at any minute. Yet he remains more comedian than actor, as unbelievable in moments of crisis as his script is. And despite Close’s direction, the interactions between Talarico and Bennett are stiff and mannered.
