LESLIE JORDAN -- THE HUMOR MAN IS BACK

Lee Hartgrave reviews July 1, 2009

LESLIE JORDAN – Devilishly funny man

Wouldn’t it be great if Comic Leslie Jordan were to play Nurse Ratchid in ‘Cuckoo’s Nest’? I think it would be a hoot. But right now you can see this talented Joker on the Rrazz Room stage performing his one-man autobiographical show to a packed audience.

He loves to tell all about his life, including the ups and downs during his drug and drinking years. Something, that could have easily ruined his budding career, But as Jordan tells the audience – “I found out a long time ago that the best way to deal with adversity in life is to get people to laugh.” Needless to say, Jordan has succeeded in that department. Hey, not everyone wins an Emmy Award.

As funny as the story about his life is – Jordan is the one who makes it interesting. There are great storytellers and the not so great. Jordan happens to be one of the great ones who can keep you interested for over an hour and a half. He tells us with great gusto about his time in jail, about his growing up in the South and a father that was puzzled by him. Especially when he asked his dad if he could have a ‘Bridal Doll’ that he saw in a store. His Dad was an Army man – and did not think that a Doll was the best thing for a young man to have.

Great fun was when he described his school years. He had some trouble with other teens harassing him. So, he decided to make fun of himself, crack jokes and keep them laughing. “Be funny if you want to keep those boys at bay!” – he said.

This got hysterical laughs from the audience. When he talked about the Gay Bar ‘Oil Can Harry’s’. “I always liked the Cowboy look and this bar seemed to be filled with them. But the closer you got to them -- you noticed 50 yards of Chiffon."

Deliciously funny was his comments about Bill Bob Thornton when they were on a Film Set together. “Billy Bob Thornton is crazy loon, but not Gay. He was lying down on the ground wearing shorts. I was able to spot his Balls hanging out, and they were big as Billiard Balls” – he chuckled.

When he was whisked to jail for a minor thing – he hired a Lawyer, who he paid $4000 to. “When they took me away, I saw the $4.000 Lawyer waving at me like I was leaving on a Cruise Ship.” His friend Del Shores told him “Baby. I not going to come and get you anymore. You’ve got to put a plug in the Jug.” In other words, quit drinking.

Jordan has a terrific sense of timing. And in the comedy routine world, that is most important. He is a natural mimic who can squeeze funny stuff out of any phrase or word. A gesture, a look, a crinkled up nose all get the point across. If you want an evening of non-stop laughter – I think you should put your troubles away, and see what Dr. Jordan can do for you. The only pain you’ll have by being there is a sore tummy from laughing too hard.

RATING: FOUR GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!!! (highest rating) –trademarked-

WHEN YOU GO: THIS WEEKEND
WHERE: THE RRAZZ ROOM
At the Hotel Nikko @ Mason & O’Farrell

(((Lee Hartgrave has contributed many articles to the San Francisco Chronicle Sunday Datebook and produced a long-running Arts Segment on PBS KQED)))

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