Dramatic Comedic Listening
Have you noticed something on PRX?
For the last few months, some really smart, challenging and risky radio has been posted on the site. I'm talking about highly produced, occasionally funny and satiric stuff.
Now, comedy is dangerous. It's like brussel sprouts: not to everyone's tastes. But something is happening out there. And it is exciting to see -- and hear -- these works on PRX.
Here is what has caught my ears in recent months!
11 Central Ave This short weekly production is described as a radio comic strip. And it really works in my opinion because it is so well produced and fast paced. All the action takes place in a house at, duh, 11 Central Ave. This is a topical, audio Doonesbury strip. Works anytime and was designed for easy slotting on Morning Edition. Edgy, smart, a bit snarky. And the actors are really fun. "It's funny without being slapsticky or obvious and I imagine a lot of listeners will be able to identify with the characters," says reviewer and producer Sean Cole. Not all reviewers agree. Make up your own mind!
Behind the Comedy: Thirty Years of Duck's Breath Mystery Theater Wow, who knew the crazy comedy troupe had been around that long? Full disclosure: PRX put some reversioning money into this massive collection in the hope of preserving an audio archive that could easily have been lost. And Duck's Breath has been such a part of publi cradio history, we knew listeners would dig this. I love how these shows turned out. I discovered a lot of bits I had never heard before. And the characters are outrageous and silly. Even the segments I didn't like quickly moved on to the ones that still hold up---after all these years!
Comedy from Kasper Hauser The real Kasper Hauser was a lost, epileptic foundling in 19th century Germany. This Kapser Hauser is a bizarre and twisted comedy troupe (credit Jesse Thorn) with some well produced short segments. Now, my opinions about these works are not shared by everyone inside PRX, but both the Phone Call to the 14th Century and Spicy Pony Head made me laugh outloud. Sure, it's a little gross and edgy. But the FCC won't come calling.
