I went to the Margaret Cho press night tonight....

[leeinlondon]

Posted: 12/1/04 at 6:33pm

I went to the press night tonight and I am very torn...

Yes I laughed a lot at many of her pieces but I was very aware as a gay man that I am completely her target market, as were 75% of the audience. The show is VERY gay in content concentrating almost solely on gay rights and even I thought "oh for fxcks sake talk about something else for a minute". Since she is playing at least once every night from now on till January apart from two days over Christmas I wondered if she will find enough of an audience outside of gay men to be able to fill so many nights. The straight couples around me were very obviously bored to tears, unfortunately one or two of them were taking notes for reviews that I doubt will include much praise !.

Margaret is also a very political comedian talking of her hatred of Dubya Bush and I completely agree with almost everything she says. However since she is so shoutey and in your face I don't think she is subtle enough to be able to convince anyone round to her ideas and to someone that agrees with her like myself I felt like shouting "yes I know, now make me laugh" !!!

I could have met her at the after show party but what would I say, I have seen so much better than you in pub venues, you are funny enough but on tonight's evidence not funny enough to be the outstanding international star you obvously yearn to be ?

[leeinlondon]

Posted: 12/1/04 at 6:51pm

This was the State of Emergency show she has been ding very recently in the states along wih some "greatest hits" like her mom "you gay?" and men having periods etc...

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/1/04 at 7:03pm

Yeah - she was so funny years ago - now she just takes her old tried and true routines, uses them again, and throws in some bluer stuff and some angrier stuff with every new "incarnation."

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/1/04 at 7:11pm

Yup, Beav, I used to be a huge fan, but now I'm just more disappointed with every "new" show.

[DAME]

Posted: 12/1/04 at 7:13pm

Actually;
Her material in every tour has always been new. At least that has been my experience and I have now seen her 5 different times. I do wish she would do more of her mother again. But I love this current tour and I especially love her Madonna/ Esther material. ANd yes I am gay and yes I am her target audience.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 12/1/04 at 8:16pm

These comments about Cho are very interesting to me as I have long WANTED to like her, indeed, at one point felt I "should" like her, as she's a big gay fave, and this queer guy largely agrees with the majority of her views. But I don't really enjoy her. Seeing her a few times I think she doesn't realize that stand-up isn't just gabbing before a mike. Good stand up comedy requires some craft and finesse in addition to good material. I don't think Cho tells a story well, and she punches home her funny lines often with a little self-satisfied smirk that telegraphs "I'm so funny, aren't I?" And she repeats her punch lines again and again as if the more often she says them the funnier they will sound. I'm thinking of the endless "Wash yo' vagYnah" joke, where a lot of people around me roared with laughter, yet I sat stone-faced at. Cho's heart is in the right place, but she should study a master like Lily Tomlin to see how to set up a joke properly for maximum effect.

That said, her mother's line of "Only GAY screen calls!" never fails to make me chuckle because It is SO TRUE.