Greg DeLucia fully embraces the notion that the best way through a tough situation is laughter. His one-man storytelling show is both emotionally raw and steadfastly funny as DeLucia take us through events surrounding the death and funeral of his mother.
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Using the sadness of a treasured family member’s death as material for a comedy show is a risky move, but DeLucia’s earnestness and willingness to be completely vulnerable are more than enough to make up for a few minor pacing issues.
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The show had the feel of a stand-up comedy routine, complete with a mic stand and DeLucia walking around holding the microphone. The only thing missing was a faux brick wall behind him as he told the story of Betsy, his beloved mother.
The comedy comes from Delucia’s hilarious tales about the motley crew surrounding him during this intensely personal journey. DeLucia wove together tales about his brother, stepfather, blood family, step-family, friends of his mother, and Mary, the gruff funeral director.
You Don’t Have a Copyright on Your Mom’s Legacy (and Other Dumb Things People Say When You’re Mourning) closes July 24, 2019. Details and tickets
The laughter was best when DeLucia stopped telling a story to an audience and felt like he was just entertaining friends with ridiculous tales over a beer. During those shining moments, he brought folks like Mary to life and had the audience doubled over in laughter from the utter disbelief of how some people can be so … well.. dumb.
DeLucia doesn’t hold anything back, ripping into the insensitivity of family members and also admitting to hilarious missteps he also made along the way.
The show occasionally felt stilted when DeLucia paused to look at his notes, which were taped to the floor. The material was mostly so good that it was a shame when a great rhythm was interrupted.
DeLucia used comedy to work through the his deeply personal grieving process, and the audience was drawn to the sheer courage that type of storytelling takes. Through it all, DeLucia proved that laughter really can be a healing salve, even if the pain is still raw.
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