Several years ago, the Lucas Brothers were recognized by Variety as one of the top 10 comics to watch out for. And after catching their show at the Theatre St. Catherine as part of the OFF-JFL Series, it became so clearly evident why they got that recognition.
With impeccable timing and rhythm, whether they were completing each other’s sentences or echoing them, the brothers provided a non-stop entertaining show. And the spectrum of topics were almost like no other comic or comedy team could tackle them but the Lucas Brothers, whether it was life in Newark, twin discrimination by “singletons”, trying to get the Black vote for Bernie Sanders in Iowa, having a movie night with members of the Black Panthers or pitching jokes to Martin Lawrence.
And with a taste of international comedy that was well performed by opening acts Sandy (Lebanon) and Nascia (Portugal) added to the mix, the end result was an evening of comedy that is definitely not to be missed.
Another OFF-JFL show that I have never missed for nearly a decade is the Midnight Surprise show. This treat for comedy night owls with that element of surprise to it has them coming back night after night to see who will show up onstage to give the audience a sampling of their routine or test out material for an upcoming JFL show.
On the show I stayed up late for certainly lived up to its billing. Host Joyelle Nicole Johnson got the crowd pumped up talking about her trip to Taiwan to meet her boyfriend’s family and her time as a substitute teacher at a middle school in South Central L.A.; Alonzo Bodden, who was trying out material for an upcoming Nasty Show set, dealt with turning 61 and the difference between having sex with young and middle aged women; Gianmarco Soresi killed it with new material that he will also be delivering at a future Nasty Show (especially about trying to buy condoms at a 7-11 in the middle of the night); New Zealand comic Urzila Carlson related what irritates her at supermarkets, especially customers who get too touchy-feely with the produce; Arthur Simeon shared the joys of having a seat in an airplane’s emergency exit row; and Britanick, the pair of SNL writers, brought sketch comedy to a whole new level, not to mention their sense of showmanship (especially when of the pair’s portable wireless microphones died right in the middle of a sketch).
For more information, or to purchase tickets, to the Lucas Brothers, Midnight Surprise, or any other Just For Laughs show, go to hahaha.com.
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