Saturday, January 12, 2008

A Grand Night of Comedy and Music


Located in an off-the-beaten path corner of New York’s “Hell’s Kitchen” (hardly as hellish as it used to be, but you know how tough it is to shed a reputation) at 553 W. 51st Street, the Irish Arts Center is one of those gems that not even many Manhattanites know about, even though this non-profit institution has been around since 1972 (forever, in New York real estate terms). Throughout the year, it offers musical and theater engagements, educational programming, festivals and special events.

Sundays at Seven” is the mystery wrapped inside the larger Irish Arts Center enigma. You mean you’ve never heard of it? Well, quit your lallygagging and those excuses that are making you a disgrace to your parents, your ministers, your teachers, and anyone you ever met, and get yer sorry rear end on the double over to this program’s first show of the year this Sunday (the 13th), starting at 7 pm.

Show producers Ann Design and Fiona Walsh (they’re the bubbly blondes on either side of Gabriel Byrne in the picture, taken at an Arts Center fundraiser) assemble two hours’ worth of comedians and musicians on the second Sunday of every month (except for the summer, when they rest from their mighty labors and recharge the ol’ batteries).

A landmark advertising campaign slogan used to go, “You don’t have to be Jewish to love Levy’s.” Likewise, despite the fact that the show is run under the auspices of the center and that the producers are of Irish descent (Fiona, a native with
her own Web site, still speaks with a most charming accent), you don’t have to be Irish to appear onstage here or to enjoy the show.

The producers themselves display their best comic form. Ann, a veteran comedian who has split the sides of audience members in clubs throughout the tri-state area, acts as host, with an opening monologue and brief introductions to the performers. Fiona, an actress, comic, writer, producer, activist and heaven only knows what else, performs a jaw-dropping variety of character and sketch comedy routines.

This Sunday’s line-up includes performers from MTV, Montreal, and The Tonight Show. Fans of the show, such as your faithful correspondent, may not have met and greeted the likes of Mr. Byrne, as Ann and Fiona have, but we’ve gotten used to seeing the best young talent from Conan O’Brien, Comedy Central, and Caroline and Gotham’s Comedy Club.

All of that for only $10 (or $8, if you belong to the Irish Arts Center.) Where else are you going to get a bargain like that these days? (Not at retail, the way things are going!)

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