Laughter's not only the best medicine; Sometimes it's the best weapon. Since way before Stonewall, gay men in and out of the closet (R.I.P., Charles Nelson Reilly) have been subverting homophobia by making fun of it or by making fun of themselves. So it's apt that two of the most appealing pre-Pride events are all about comedy. First, the Sarasota AIDS Theatre Project returns Monday June 18 for its third annual Night of Alternative Theatre with Terrence McNally's 1973 bathhouse farce The Ritz, which is not exactly alternative anymore but is still pretty hilarious. Then, on Wednesday and Saturday, the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival screens a new documentary about gay comedians called Laughing Matters… The Men. Director Andrea Meyerson has already done two docs about lesbian comics, and for this look at the male contingent, she's put together a seriously funny lineup: All-American boy Bob Smith (Openly Bob, The Tonight Show); pleasingly plump Bruce Vilanch (multi-award-winning writer for multiple awards shows, and a regular Hollywood Square); Alec (Desperate Housewives) Mata; Country Music Television regular Scott Kennedy; up-and-comer Eddie Sarfaty; and Andre Kelley, who's billed as "the only Black comic in the entire country who's never, ever, ever appeared on B.E.T." The doc interweaves stand-up material with candid interviews, and was shot during Palm Springs Pride. The Ritz, Mon., June 18, 7:30 p.m., American Stage, 211 Third St. S., St. Petersburg, $15 (to benefit For AIDS Care Today), americanstage.org; and Laughing Matters … The Men, Wed., June 20, 9 p.m., Muvico Baywalk, St Petersburg, and Sat., June 23, 8 p.m., Channelside IMAX, Tampa, $9 adults/$7 students (a small portion to benefit St. Pete Pride), 813-879-4220, tiglff.com.
This article appears in Jun 13-19, 2007.