Why is it, when I'm a complete jackass on stage people really appreciate my humor and seem to enjoy the show a lot more?

Brett.

On stage, you've got to be Larger Than Life (in capital letters). You have to be a caricature, and your actions have to be a lampoon of real life. People expect you to do things that no normal person would ever do. That's Entertainment.

Even in 'the legitimate theatre' characters are not normal people; they act in ways and do things that normal people would never do. Laura in 'The Glass Menagerie' isn't just a fragile flower, she's The Ultimate Fragile Flower. And have you ever spontaneously sprung into song in the street and had 50 strangers join you in a perfectly choreographed dance number? Art is never a reflection of real life, it's an Exagerration of Real Life. It's Fantasy.

And the Bigger you are, the more people seem to love it. If you met someone who acted like Don Rickles or Bobcat Goldthwaite in real life, you wouldn't be amused - you'd just want to shoot them. But on stage, they are hilarious.

So build it up as Big as you can. You'll be amazed what you can get by with. You'll have more fun than ever, and the audience will love it!

Break a leg!

Airship, I totally agree with your with analysis, and Don Rickles really gets me laughing. I can think of a couple more examples, Andrew "Dice" Clay and Howard Stern. People do seem to be entertained by that type of personality. However, I think there is a line. I think, the line is different for different individuals. For me, Don Rickles is funny because I somehow imagine that he is really a nice guy, unlike his stage personna. I feel like it's just an act, almost a mockery of what it would be like if he were really that person. With other performers, I sometimes get the sense that they are truely mean-spirited, and that is a major turn-off. Sure, when being heckled, the entertainer has every right to (and, in fact, needs to) do whatever is necessary to maintain control, and I think the audience (and the even the hecklers themselves) understand. That's cool. However, I don't appreciate seeing the entertainer call an innocent volunteer and then proceed to make that person look foolish.

Brett, I think, maybe it works for you because you, somehow, let your audience know that it is "just an act" and that, in real life, you're a different (kinder, gentler) person. Perhaps someone here can point out some specific techniques for pulling this off?

You're right, Seth. People don't want to see a REAL jackass, they want to see a PRETEND jackass. Because the pretend jackass lets them vent all their frustration at the real jackasses in the world. If the preformer is a real jackass, then he's just one more aggrevation, not a release for that aggrevation.

Thanks for your input!

I really appreciate it!

Brett.

If people want to see a real jackass, just turn on CNN and wait a few minutes.

Nippulini, many of us feel the same way about Fox.

FYI, I've met Don Rickles on several occasions, and his real persona couldn't be further from his stage persona. He's one of the truly nice guys (and humble, as well!) in the business. A real gentleman. -He still took a few moments, however, to make fun of the clothes I was wearing... and I loved every minute of it!

Gabelson

Yeah, I'd have to agree the asses are on FOX.

Brett.

Gabelson, thanks for the info. That's great to know!