We Review: Josh Blue Comedy at KPC
From the buzz circulating the budding career of Josh Blue, we thought his Saturday evening performance at the Kirkland Performance Center would be full of self-deprecating and occasionally awkward humor. It was not.
Let’s start with the facts. Blue has Cerebral Palsy. He is a stand-up comedian. He is funny - no, he is hilarious. He is a Nike-sponsored striker for the U.S. Paralympic soccer team. Finally, he feels compelled to use anything with a disabled sign (ramps, doors, bathroom stalls) because they were created for him, right?
Blue’s comedy does more than inject tear-jerking spouts of laughter; it smacks listeners in the face with the harsh reality of disability stereotypes. His jokes are sharply written but leave room for improvisation. Saturday, his wit was put to the test with these brilliant (insert sarcasm here) questions during an impromptu Q&A. Hillary or Obama? Who is your favorite comedian? What celebrities have you met? Blue managed to pull something funny from of those delightful jokesters sitting in the audience.
From political riffs about meeting President Bush to ad-libbing his clear disdain for republican principles (we need stem cell research man!) and NASCAR fans, Blue had the packed audience amused for the entire set.
You can tell from the moment Blue stepped (or kicked the soccer ball) on stage he was born to do comedy. Supported loudly in the front row by his old-time friends from Evergreen State College, which is where his comedic journey began, the crowd couldn’t help but clap and cheer when he gave his final bow.
Unfortunately for Seattle, Blue was only in town for that night. He will be back, though, so be sure to check his tour schedule. If you are looking for entertainment on the Eastside, the Kirkland Performance Center has several upcoming shows worth attending including "Love is a Laugh," a Valentine's Day special from Comedy Underground on Feb. 14.
