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Published at 6:32pm
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Funny essays typically fall flat when read onstage. This maxim is also true in reverse, as exemplified by the shelves of lackluster memoirs penned by otherwise hilarious stand-ups. When it comes to comedy, live performance and the written word are often at odds. Fortunately, former Daily Show and Colbert Report executive producer Ben Karlin understands.
Things I’ve Learned from Women Who’ve Dumped Me is the title of a humor anthology, edited by Karlin; it’s also the title of four spin-off shows (launching this week at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre) inspired by the collection. “Instead of doing signings,” explains Karlin, who also contributed to the collection, “I thought, Why not put up a live version of the book?” That means that, in addition to a couple of readings, audiences will be treated to performances from stand-ups, storytellers and musicians.
In Things I’ve Learned, 31 men—including acclaimed authors Nick Hornby, Neal Pollack and A.J. Jacobs, comedic writer-performers Will Forte, Bob Odenkirk and David Wain, several TV scribes, and former Senator Bob Kerrey—relay bits of wisdom gained from failed romantic encounters. Some pieces are essays, others are one-act plays. Many—including an ode to short-lived crushes by NewsRadio creator Paul Simms, a desperate attempt to scientifically quantify breakups by author Sam Lipsyte and a sweetly innocent summer-camp remembrance by actor Tom McCarthy—are both quite funny and surprisingly touching.
“I was kind of a dick about keeping things on theme,” Karlin says. “It wasn’t enough if it was just about a relationship or a breakup; I wanted them all to have a lesson.” Another bit of info to be gleaned: Men are much more thoughtful about matters of the heart than women might imagine. To be fair, the authors approached their subjects with plenty of hindsight. “This book is totally different from Things I Learned from Women Who Dumped Me Ten Minutes Ago,” Karlin explains. “That book would just be one essay titled ‘Whore.’ ”
Thankfully, such a vengeful tome doesn’t exist. But Karlin is planning a foil to the current release. Will it be lost-love stories by women? “Absolutely not,” he shoots back. “You’d expect that from women—they don’t have a problem being introspective.” It will, however, be penned by the ladies. “I’m calling it the Creepy-Guy Project,” he says of the gestating collection dedicated to tales about the desperate and wholly misguided actions of crazy men, seen through the eyes of their prey.
This topic will also be covered by one female performer at each live installment of Things I’ve Learned. Although we know that Kristen Schaal (Flight of the Conchords) is slated to host Thursday 7, and Mindy Kaling (The Office) will appear Wednesday 13, Karlin won’t reveal the identities of other female guests. In fact, there will be several surprises on each bill. Will one of them be him? “No, I’m positioning myself to be like the porn producer. You know how the credits will always say, ‘Johnny Steel presents’?” So he’s Johnny Steel. Sounds like a creepy-guy project, indeed.
Things I’ve Learned from Women Who’ve Dumped Me (Grand Central Publishing, $24) is out now. Things I’ve Learned from Women Who’ve Dumped Me…Live! happens at the UCBT Thu 7, Wed 13, Feb 21 and Feb 28.
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