Heckle and Jeckyl

At the Jam Comedy Benefit at the Town Hall, one of the performers was Janeane Garofalo. If you've ever seen her perform "stand-up" you know that she's not a traditional stand-up comedienne. She doesn't do the punch line thing. It's a more subdued type of performance, almost like a monologist. She's not going to be everyone's cup of tea. She appeared after a pretty manic and very funny comedian, so it was a bit of a lull.

So there's Ms. Garofalo, volunteering her time for this benefit, doing her thing, when someone yells "Get off the stage!"

We're not in a nightclub. We're at a benefit. It was clear from the program who was going to be on when a person buys their ticket. What was this idiot in the audience thinking? Ms. Gerafalo handled it pretty well and the audience supported her well against this tacky bit of boisterousness.

Even if this guy thought she was boring as hell, did it ever occur to him that perhaps others in the audience were enjoying it? He could go outside, smoke a cigarette, stretch his legs, any one of a number of things besides trying to steal attention for himself with his rude display. Not only does the guy insult Janeane Garofalo, he insults everyone in the audience who is enjoying it. How can someone be so self centered to think what he wants is what everyone wants, and then to presume to speak for others? Obviously there is a mental disconnect in the mind of a heckler that makes him think he's offering a clever critique when really all he is doing is trying to be noticed himself. Even if a performer is bad, it is better to quietly vote with your feet than shout "Boring!" at the stage like an ass.

Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion, but what I find amazing isn't the opinions that are revealed but the absolutely ugly, inappropriate or tasteless ways people choose to relate them. I think the manner of expression tells a lot more about a person expressing than what's said.
posted 11:08 AM | link |