I have not been to many comedy shows because
usually comedians don’t make me laugh. I
have never been one to laugh during off color jokes or ones about being impaired
which seem to be the subjects of most comedic shows.
I am usually the girl in the audience that
the comedian points to and states, “This joke will even make that girl laugh”. Since I am a native Pittsburgher, I ventured
to the Oaks Theater to see if local comedian, Jim Krenn, known for his
Pittsburgh humor, would be able to “crack me up”!
Reflection
I discovered the Oaks Theater a few months ago (see Day 195). It's a revamped movie theater with a smaller
venue to see shows and the concession stand is now a full bar that offers real food like a variety of flat breads. Located
in Oakmont, it’s a quick ride from the city for affordable fun (see schedule).
If you’re from Pittsburgh or have lived here long enough, you know that we enjoy
laughing at ourselves and especially laughing about our Pittsburgh slang (Pittsburghese)
and unique foods (pierogies). Jim Krenn, for over 24 years, was the host of the cities morning show on 102.5 WDVE FM and
another morning show on Q 92.9 FM. He had a barrage of impersonations and of course,
like most morning radio show hosts, his own set of characters (Stanly P.
Kachowski).
Krenn opened with his impersonation of Trump but
what comedian doesn’t these days. He added some Reagan and a little Clinton. He brought back some characters used in his radio show like our past mayor, Sophie
Masloff, and the yinzer character Stanley P. I enjoyed that he elicited laughs
with clean comedy, not to mention that the crowd just seemed to love him.
He must have a following. What Krenn does best is connect us to our Pittsburgh
memories and as we remember them, we just “crack
up.”
Spiritual Reflection
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting (Job 8:21)
Other
Sources
Oaks Theater http://theoakstheater.com/
Jim Krenn http://www.jimkrenn.com/
Pittsbrughese http://www.pittsburghese.com/glossary.ep.html?type=nouns