STORYTELLING, sort of

A man is sent to prison. The first day there he wanders around trying to get the lay of the land, just observing. He sees one prisoner walk up to another and say "43" and heard the other prisoner laugh. A while later he sees another prisoner say "37" to his friend, and they both get a chuckle out of it. He walks up to the men and asks "What's with the numbers?" One experienced inmate replies "We have all been in here so long that we know the same jokes so rather than tell the whole joke, we just say the number of the joke and then laugh." The new prisoner decides to try it. He walks over to a stranger and says "43." No response. Then he says "37" and all he gets is a blank stare. He asks the man why he did not laugh and the veteran inmate replies "SOME PEOPLE just can't tell a joke."

Last night at Sconset casino, as part of the Nantucket Film Festival, they had a full-house of folks who ate and drank and sat through some of the lamest storytelling I have ever heard. I am grateful for the opportunity to attend the casino, hang with the folks, chow down on way to many chocolate covered pretzels, and feel the vibe of the crowd. People were in a good mood and there was a lot of laughter. I think I have a fairly sophisticated sense of humor and am a tolerable raconteur. And I also think I am not being harsh when I say that RAINMAN could have told better stories. They were long, tedious, not funny, and mostly unnecessarily sexually oriented tales about the storyteller's inability to get laid in various stages in life. The only bright lights in the event were Anne Meara and her husband Jerry Stiller, long term residents of the island who were legitimately funny and played off their 81 years of age. Brian Williams, one of the funniest newsmen ever (David Gregory is another) was here for his 16th consecutive year and brought his FIRST CLASS wit and delivery. His subject matter was germane to a film festival unlike what tried to pass for storytelling from the others last night. To paraphrase our President, the Special Olympics of comedy is alive and well in Sconset.

This event is not to be confused with the comedy ROUNDTABLE which will be held on Sunday afternoon featuring world class comedians. If I am disappointed at the Roundtable, where the best of the best like Jerry Seinfeld will be on stage, then shame on me. Describing last night, calling the story tellers "comedic-challenged" is being kind.