Funny Woman #1

Right now I'm reading The Mother of Black Hollywood by Jenifer Lewis. Jenifer Lewis is one of those funny women who makes my heart sing when I see her on the screen. She seems to have a clear character, the diva, and that comes through in the book. Her little asides and catty comments all emanate from the 'diva' character, and that's what makes them funny.

As you can probably tell, I'm taking time to deconstruct this book. I'm trying to figure out how it works, how the comedy elements work. I'm also just reading it as a book, and it is fascinating. Lewis's life story is engrossing and her respect for the singers and actors who came before her rounds it all out, showing she has a brain and a heart. I'm halfway through right now, and there are threads already weaving through the text: mental illness and bipolar disorder, self-destructive behaviours, the desire to be a star. I can feel it starting to come together. It's a well put-together book.

Why did I choose this book? Well, it's been sitting in my book collection for a few years. Not quite long enough to be collecting dust exactly. Long enough that I've felt guilty for not reading it. I've put together a storage box of books I own that have vague links to comedy. Whether they're memoirs or biographies, guides to comedy, even a couple of books about mime. I plan to work through these books (and buy more!) as I work out what my comedy plan is.

Does The Mother of Black Hollywood give me a clue as to what I want to do with my comedy project? Well, in the middle of the book, Lewis talks about her many one-woman shows. Maybe I could do something like that. Lewis is a classically trained actress with a killer voice and a high kick to die for. I don't have her many talents. But could I do something within my skills and expertise? Maybe I could write a show for someone else to perform? Maybe I could create a character, like Lewis's diva, who plays to my strengths.

Certainly, the book has taught me a lot. It has taught me to think big, to go big. Why not? There's no point crouching and pretending to be small. Why not be great? I just need to find out where my powers lie.