THE GEM & CENTURY THEATRES

NOW PLAYING
0411 ,. ?

their heritage. For all of the assimila-
tion of American Jews of this past
century, they didn't hide who they
were or where they came from. Molly
Goldberg, Fannie Brice, Gertrude
Berg, all got up there with their
Jewish and Yiddish accents. There was
no masking it." There is a theory that
Jews are funny because of the suffer-
ing they have endured, but Silverman
says he doesn't buy that explanation.
"I think it's the individual —
although many Jewish comediennes
grew up very poor and comedy was a
good way to mask their misery."
Over the decades, what makes peo-
ple laugh has changed, and that
includes Jewish routines. Jewish
humor, says Silverman, has gotten
raunchier along with everything else.
As for training grounds, in the
beginning, "it was the theater, although
the stage wasn't considered a proper
place for what was considered the 'fair-
er sex,'" Silverman writes in his book.
"The place for comediennes who had

arrived was burlesque, or if they were
really funny, vaudeville. Films came
next, and then radio around the 1930s.
By the '40s, there were the Catskill
resorts, not just a training ground for
comics, but a breeding ground."
Today, comediennes get their act
going wherever they can. "Now, kids are
starting in high school and earlier," says
Silverman, who was born and raised in
Southern California (his father, Raymond
Silverman, grew up in Detroit).
"Colleges are being combed. Things
are moving so quickly thanks to the
Internet."
While some may believe that the
comedy-club circuit is male dominated,
Silverman asserts that it clearly is not.
"From Fannie Brice and Gracie
Allen to Whoopi Goldberg and
Rosanne, women have made a signifi-
cant contribution to humor in this
country," Silverman says.
The good news — Jerry, are you
listening? — is that many more funny
women are on the horizon. ❑

1 14/Y11

Based on the true story of Patsy Cline's friendship
with an adoring fan, Always... Patsy Cline
is a heartfelt comedy featuring over 20
of Cline's most memorable songs.

1/2 PRICE PERFORMANCES THROUGH MARCH 5!

The Purple Rose Theatre Company Production of

"Yoop it up for Escanaba,
a Gem of a comedy."

-Michael H. Margolin. Detroit News

"Some comedies have laughs
by the dozen. Escanaba has
them by the gross."

-Martin F. Kohn, Detroit Free Press

'A Hilarious Comedy

BY JEFF DANIELS

l eS

Of the some 75 comediennes
Stephen M. Silverman highlights in his book 'Funny Ladies,' many
are Jewish. Here's what Silverman has to say about some of them.

• Barbra Streisand: Difficult, but a
pooned her image very well in the
powerhouse. She has terrific drive.
First Wives Club. She is the daugh-
She used to be funny and had great
ter of a Presbyterian musician father
comedic timing.
and a Jewish mother who ran a
• Sophie Tucker: Schmaltzy, wore
dance studio.
her heart on her sleeve. She believed
• Gilda Radner: An angel.
her shtick. She was
Incredibly funny on
part-Jewish mother,
5 camera and off. Devoted
part-dirty old lady.
; to her craft and
• Dorothy Parker: Acid
f adorable. Jewish from
tongue, brilliant. Wry
Detroit — her mother
sense of humor. Born
named her after the sul-
Dorothy Rothschild,
try Rita Hayworth char-
the poet/author married
- acter.
Edwin Pond Parker to
• Madeline Kahn: A
get rid of her Jewish
chameleon. Difficult to
surname.
pin down. She didn't
• Mary Livingston: A
know
why people
Bette Midler:
perfect foil for her hus-
laughed
at her. Her career
Waugh04 bawdy,
band, Jack Benny. She
started off like a rocket
campy and varnpy."
played Jack's wife on his
ship in Mel Brooks' films
show. Born Sadie Marks, she was
but never reached the top.
socially aloof and didn't care for
• Bette Midler: A nice Jewish girl
show business.
from Honolulu. Naughty, bawdy,
• Judy Holliday: Sublime. Nothing
campy and vampy.
she couldn't do. Perfect timing and
• Totie Fields: Very vulgar but very
a great singer. She was born Judith
funny. She died way too young.
Tuvim Hebrew for holiday. She
• Elaine May Brilliant. Neurotic as
died very young of cancer.
anything. A great writer — she
• Joan Rivers: She is a survivor. Can
thinks funny.
be outrageous, but people still seem
• Gertrude Berg: She was a great
to enjoy her
lady with great style and wrote all
• Goldie Hawn: Adorable. She lam-
her shows.

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