A Comedy Connection advertisement reads, "Tonight's material may be offensive to: Blacks, Whites, Asians, Italians, people who think Elvis is alive, people who think they're Elvis, Elvis, Baptists, Catholics, the KKK, Tammy Faye, Satanists, white trash, recycled trash, he or she who is politically correct, ugly people, pretty people, homosexuals, heterosexuals, and nuns."
Unlike most advertising campaigns, this one sticks solely to the truth. The jokes at the Comedy Connection are universally offensive, leaving no one unscathed.
Located near Faneuil Hall in downtown Boston, the Comedy Connection presents national and local stand-up comedians seven nights a week. It boasts that it attracts "the biggest names in comedy," and over the years, has featured such comedians as Wendy Liebman and Chris Rock.
The venue, a second floor room in the Quincy Market Place building, is filled with casual tables and chairs, making its set up ideal for a large group of friends. A colorful purple-and-green stage framed by a cartoon grand piano on a painted backdrop sets the mood for a light and fun evening.
At a recent Tuesday night, host Dan Rodigan tried out some new jokes to break the ice. When the audience remained silent following the punch lines, he joked about how bad his jokes were - an awkward start to the performance.
But with only a handful in attendance on a typical Tuesday night, laughs can be a bit slow to come by initially. Many of the comedians worked relentlessly to loosen the crowd.
Shows during the week are considerably less crowded than those on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Weekday shows have a much more intimate atmosphere, which the comedians use to make conversation with the audience.
Comedy Connection comedians are also well known for using members of the audience as the butt of jokes. One comedian asked a man who was seated at a table near the stage a couple quick yes-or-no questions to which the man replied "Uh, yeah," to both.
"I have a feeling you would say 'Uh, yeah,' to just about anything I ask you right now," the comedian retorted, but left the joke at that.
Audience members felt similarly comfortable in initiating interaction with the comedians. When one comedian cracked a joke about his marriage, a woman from the audience shouted that he wasn't wearing a wedding ring. He answered with a story about how he had lost it.
Later, another comedian asked the same woman where she worked. "I work with emotionally disturbed adolescent girls," she said.
"A comedian's gold mine!" he said excitedly.
Comedians usually tested the audience before drawing a line. When the audience responded well to an edgy joke by Tuesday's headliner Paul Nardizzi, he took the joke a few steps further until the laughs diminished.
Audience members at the Connection usually include a mix of college students and seniors, locals and tourists, and the comedians work from improvisation based on the dynamics of the audience.
One of the running jokes of Tuesday's show was on the percentage of British tourists in the audience. "She was pissed," said one comedian and then, turning to the English audience members, reminded them, "Angry - not drunk," just before he launched into a joke about their odd use of words.
Weekend nights are often much busier, as are Thursday nights, when Frank Santos, "The R-Rated Hypnotist," takes the stage at 8:30 p.m. Santos' act often consists of inducing audience members to act as Chippendale dancers, Janet Jackson and Ricki Martin.
The Comedy Connection has a two item minimum purchase for each audience member. Waitresses take orders constantly throughout the show, and the menu consists of several appetizers, desserts, and drinks.
Coming attractions include Tommy Davidson (Oct. 15-17), Richard Jeni (Oct. 22-23), and Jeffrey Ross (Nov. 5-6).
With talented comedians and a cozy setting, The Comedy Connection could be the perfect place in Boston for an evening of laughs.
For more information, call (617) 248-9700 or visit www.comedyconnectionboston.com. Ticket prices vary. The Comedy Connection is located at 245 Quincy Market Place, Faneuil Hall, Boston. Validated parking is available at 75 State Street Garage.
