Have you ever watched someone spill their most personal secrets on stage? That should be awkward, shouldn't it? How, then, did Marc Maron make it so unbelievably funny?
"Thinky Pain," Marc Maron's newest comedy special, plays out like a meeting between Maron and his therapist, but it never makes you feel uncomfortable.
In this 90 minute performance, Maron eschews many of the things we have come to expect from comedy specials. Rather than a large theater, the setting is a small, plain basement of a club in New York. The focus is entirely on Maron. There are no insert shots of audience reactions. This adds to the intimacy of the event.
That intimacy is the greatest strength of "Thinky Pain." Maron is one of a select few comics who make you feel like you are just having a conversation with them. He is a less-rehearsed Louis CK (which is not an insult- I actually think Maron pulls off the unrehearsed style better than CK). Maron talks and looks like your creepy uncle (complete with uncomfortable porn references), only he is much funnier.
He adds to this intimacy by being painfully honest. It never feels uncomfortable though, because Maron is so likable and easy to listen to. There is a reason Maron's podcast is so popular. He knows how to talk.
Those who listen to Maron's podcast, "WTF," will find this special oddly familiar. Partly because he uses some of the material from his podcast, and partly because Maron has such a distinctive voice and personality. It will not feel stale though. If anything, podcast listeners will probably enjoy this special more than the average person because it gives you a better picture of Maron as a comedian.
The special has some flaws. Though it has many laugh out loud moments, there are stretches where Maron can get lost in his own storytelling and forget to be funny. Also, the last bit seems out of place when compared to the rest of the special. It is much more rehearsed. It's like Maron decided he would do whatever he wanted for 80 minutes, but he needed to end on this bit. It is a funny bit, but it does not match the tone of the rest of the special.
Maron's special is completely atypical of most comedy specials. Everything about it, from Maron's performance to the direction and camerawork, creates an intimate and personal atmosphere not found in other specials. Though you may not be laughing the entire time, "Thinky Pain" will make you look at comedy in a new, exciting way.
Here's a clip from the special:
Within the past 10 years, it seems both audiences and performers have become more open to experimentation. Comics seem willing to insert what I guess you'd call artistic--or creatively expressive--elements into their routines.
ReplyDelete--Sam
I think you're right that it's happening more now, but it's not necessarily a new thing. Guys like Andy Kaufman (who I guess was almost more than a comedian) and Steve Martin were very into experimentation and creativity.
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