A Special Brand of Comedy to Support the Middletown Arts Center

They say that laughter is the best medicine and sometimes, a night of side-splitting comedy that makes you laugh till your stomach hurts is just what the doctor ordered! That was certainly the case on a recent evening at the Middletown Arts Center (MAC), when Vinnie Brand – a township native, family man, community volunteer, comedy club owner, and outrageously funny comedian in his own right – presented a Comedy Benefit for the Arts to help support the MAC and its programs.

Held on Sunday, September 29, 2013, the show’s audience was filled to capacity – and then some, requiring rows of additional folding chairs to be set up to accommodate the overflow crowd. A hum of happy anticipation was in the air as friends and neighbors from throughout the community – all adults, in deference to the mature content and language of the show – mingled together. 

As the lights dimmed and everyone took their seats, Maggie O’Brien, executive director of the Middletown Arts Center, stepped to the microphone to welcome the audience and express her appreciation for their support and for the participation of the night’s performers. And then the show was off and running as the opening act, Mike O’Keefe and the Improv Jam, burst upon the stage. Their creative, interactive performance tapped on the talents of willing audience members who volunteered to provide directions, suggestions, and even sound effects to prompt the comedic crew through their frantic antics. 

Then it was on to the headline act, Vinnie Brand, who unleashed an unending torrent of hilarious observations about the all-too-familiar ups and downs, ins and outs of life as we know it. The audience roared as he reviewed, ranted, and raved about topics that included kids, marriage, divorce, bills, family, work, school, sports, sex, and suburbia. No topic was seemingly off-limits for this Middletown Board of Education member, who pondered and poked fun at everyone from politicians to parents to proctologists, provoking gales of laughter and vigorous nods of agreement from his peers in the crowd. It was a terrific mix of sentiment, satire, and sarcasm as he discussed his experiences as a husband (with affectionate intros to his wife), father (of six children), public servant, sports coach, and more.

All proceeds from the evening’s ticket sales support the Middletown Arts Center’s mission to provide area residents of all ages with innovative and affordable arts activities, exhibits, classes, and events. The Middletown Arts Center, at 36 Church Street, next to the train station, is an award-winning, state-of-the-art facility run by the non-profit Middletown Township Cultural and Arts Council. Visit www.middletownarts.org or call (732) 706-4100 for more information.