We Were Ready To Laugh, And We Did

What do you get when you cross a sixty-something-year-old beautiful woman with a sharp wit and fab shoes?
LoRee Brooks performing at the The Long Beach Playhouse in the Clean Comics Showcase.
(Clean Comics defined: no naughty language)

LoRee is the mom of my friends; Jana, Jill, and LeAnn. I met her and her late husband, the very wonderful Mr. Ray Brooks, 20 years ago when Jana and I were planing a trip to Europe. “So you’re the girl who is dragging my daughter off to another continent?” was the first thing she ever said to me.

Now, I have always known LoRee to be…well…kind of a wise cracker. But, I had no idea she was secretly harboring the dream of being, of all things, a stand-up comic. LoRee told me she had always loved Jerry Lewis and had studied his act for years; this being one of her favorites.

(The Errand Boy)

She has been taking a class from Barry Weisenberg at Santiago College called something like “How to become a stand-up comedian.”

LoRee kicked off the show with her clever comments on make-up application and dating service (mis) matches. One highlight was her rendition of senior citizen pole-dancing. I was blown-away by her professionalism.

Her teacher, Mr. Weisenberg, was hilarious talking about what a cheap piece of cr#p his car was, “It rolled on the freeway and caused $7 worth of damage.” He called himself the king of the one-liner. I love that.

Bob Schembre, an Anaheim comic by way of Brooklyn, was so great. He played a voicemail message from his New York cousin who was worried about a Tsunami she had heard about in California. Oh satire, this world needs more of it.

I thought Larry was going to bust a gut listening to Erik Hunter, trying to impress the ladies, talking about how much he loves pillows on his bed; taking them off, putting them on again, taking them off, putting them on again.

LoRee’s courage to begin such and intimidating and competitive career (dare a I say “at her age”) is encouraging. It strikes me as extraordinary that she can do this and still be one of the most compassionate women I have ever met. The combination of wit, wisdom, courage and just plain goodness is something to apire to. You don’t see that foursome whirling around in too many people these days.

What secret dreams are lurking in you?

Just look at LoRee, looking beautiful, standing there with mic in hand…