Home > Blogs > The Lounge Lizards > Archives > 2008 > March > 29 > Entry
Lampanelli kills at Victoria
Don’t let her ‘50s “Pleasantville” housewife exterior fool you … Lisa Lampanelli, decked out in a polka-dot dress and bright red sweater for her Friday, March 28 appearance in Dayton, has the mouth of the nastiest truck driver you could ever dream up.
The lush, luxuriously appointed Victoria Theatre, usually a beacon of culture and good taste was brought down a notch Friday with the introduction of crude comedian Lampanelli to it’s stage.
Don’t get me wrong … it was a hilarious 90-minute set. Some audience members laughed until they nearly cried, while others had to have shed tears, but with the lights dimmed and their backs facing out row it was impossible to be sure.
The twisted quick-witted equal-opportunity offender known for her fearless R-rated politically-incorrect potty mouth and hilarious segments on the Comedy Central Celebrity Roasts and Howard Stern show is not for the faint of heart. Her appearance Friday was no exception.
She didn’t say it. She didn’t have to. It’s obvious that Lisa Lampanelli takes her New York Times title as the “Lovable Queen of Mean” seriously, and true to form she ruled her comedic kingdom with an iron fist full of killer dirty insults dished out in the form of venomous one-liners and animated anecdotes on hot topics like race, religion, sexual orientation and sex.
Hurling a flurry of racial zingers playing on virtually every imaginable ethnic stereotype, Lampanelli only paused to heckle audience members, like an easy-going Dexter who said he drove down from Columbus, with more of the same. Even the Dayton Daily News garnered a mention … no one was safe and no one seemed sorry about it.
Offensive? You bet. It’s also biting, abusive, disrespectful, despicable, obnoxious and repugnant.
Most of her routine … OK, OK all of it … packed tight with foul humor and a speedy delivery (often compared to that of Don Rickles) is not appropriate to print here. Although it may be in terrrible taste, it didn’t stop the laughs from coming solid throughout the evening.
Perhaps the reason the audience isn’t more offended is that Lampanelli is herself the punchline of plenty of the material she delivers up, ridiculing herself just as quickly and mercilessly as she does unsuspecting audience members. Her spontaneous, heart-felt delivery and raucous rapport with the audience left them feeling safe (somewhat) even thought the material was anything but.
Such, it seems, is the life and act of an insult comic.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Reviews
Comments
By DJ Tim
March 29, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this
The show was superb. It’s great to forget everything and enjoy an evening of complete laughter. Everyone in the audience was entertained. I would visit her show again without a doubt.By larry martin
March 29, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this
she’s everything thats wrong with this world.By DaisyReader
March 29, 2008 5:38 PM | Link to this
Well, if it takes nasty and mean to get laughs, count me out! Glad I wasn’t there.By Ron
March 29, 2008 5:47 PM | Link to this
Lisa was hilarious. I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time. As one of the audience members seated up front who was on the receiving end of several of her remarks, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sure she’s raunchy and the Queen of Mean, but you know that when you purchase your ticket. That’s why we went. It was also fun to meet an entertainer who was so accessible, greeting attendees before and after the show. We’d definitely go see her again.By John
March 30, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this
Lisa is hilarious, even off the stage. I was fortunate enough to meet her before the show, and she struck me as being very sweet and gracious… as well as just naturally funny. It’s not “just an act”. I think her honesty is what really resonates with the people that go to see her. She’s a cool gal.By MStorer
March 30, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this
It was great at the show, I had laugh marks all over my face. After we took Lisa to a Dayton club and sat VIP with her, followed by a few hours at a dine in restaurant. I love Lisa, even off the stage she is full of wit! I cant wait to see her again.