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Pacifica Tribune
Let’s give them something to laugh about – Comedy gold at the Chit Chat
By Jean Bartlett – ARTS CORRESPONDENT
Ran October 1, 2008
Original Article >>

In these see-saw economic times where hysterical laughter is more the order of the day, what a pleasure to sit back and find out that today’s blues are often Saturday night’s elbow nudges.

This past Saturday night, writer, journalist, painter, actress and comic Lynn Ruth Miller co-produced and presented quite a few belly laugh servings at her ‘Lynn Ruth Miller’s Comedy Workout Room’ at the Chit Chat Café. Co-produced by theater, film and TV producer, director and actor David Guilmette, Miller invited Bay Area club headliners to roll out the red carpet on their new material to a savvy audience that came to have a good time (and did). Comics under the high beams were Dan Edwards, Samson Koletkar, Caine Hörr the Magician, Ken Koskella, Doug Ferrari and Lynn Ruth Miller. Dan Edwards also served as MC.

Before show time, there was already festiveness in the air. What’s not to like at a cozy and hip local spot where you can order such satisfiers as a good foaming latte or a hot BBQ pork sandwich. Or maybe you want a seafood salad, or a pastrami sandwich or a mouth watering bagel – and this is the short side of the chalk board menu. There’s chardonnay, merlot, Anchor Steam, hot chocolate, white mocha and a friendly staff – there are all kinds of beneficial reasons to find yourself pulling up a chair at Amy Kulkiela’s Chit Chat Café on Manor (Kukielka also runs the Chit Chat at the Pier). Toss in some talented comics and you’ve got smart-headed good times firing from all barrels.

Fortunately the evening’s MC, comic Dan Edwards escaped from a life in corporate America to do standup comedy. The only time now Edwards can even be caught in business casual is when he wears his underwear to go pick up his morning paper. Often a guest on South Bay 94.5 KBAY Kirk and Lissa Morning Show, Edwards is ‘casual’ classic, a Bob Newhart-like college professor, calmly reflecting on the idiocy of various news events and/or individuals without ever using the word ‘idiocy.’

Originally from Mumbai and now a resident of San Francisco, comic Samson Koletkar is progressively irreverent, able to give the audience good double-take laughs over things like, racism. Often referred to as the Indian Seinfeld, Koletkar rapid fired his observations on some of the muddle-headed thinking that he sees ‘America’ delivering to the world. He’s edgy and tempered a bit by good-natured goofiness.

More amicable magician than comic, Caine Hörr made everyone think he could hide an egg under his armpit, (don’t try that at home without a spatula and a good detergent), but in actuality he hid it in plain sight. He also pulled a ring through a knotted rope, made a rope rabbit and hid a card from his deck on the back of an insurance policy. The Café setup made it hard for the people in the back to see all his tricks so he brought his magic to them – a magician truly with all the right things up his sleeve.

Comic Ken Koskella retired from the business world but he doesn’t want his wife to know it. In case she showed up his audience agreed to tell her we were there to buy shares. Still business primed in suit and tie, Koskella might look like a broker but I think he’s really Stephen Colbert’s father. The fact that he looks too dignified to be knee-slapping funny is an illusion shattered 10 seconds into his comedy routine.

Comic Doug Ferrari rocketed to the top of the comedy scene in the 80s, got bit by alcoholism, drug addiction and an untreated mental disorder and ended up homeless in San Francisco. Long clean and sober with a roof over his head, Ferrari is now on a ‘mission from God to make people laugh’ as well as do what he can to bring funding relief to such organizations as the San Francisco Suicide Prevention Hotline and the National Institute of Mental Health. This funny man held his audience in the palms of his hands and made us laugh out loud about the foibles of being human.

75-year-old entertainer Lynn Ruth Miller had plenty of things to say about the dating life of people over 70. But this septuagenarian better look to the 30-year-old crowd for that part of her life because they might be the only ones fast enough to catch her. Not just another pretty face on the comedy circuit, although she is pretty darn cute, Miller carries her sense of humor with her like Columbus carried his compass, and she never loses sight of a good time.

Special kudos to pianist, composer Larry Dunlap for penning the Lynn Ruth closing song that reminds everyone to dream. Additionally a huge round of applause goes to Miller and Guilmette for making it all happen and Amy Kulkiela for inviting comedy in from the cold and giving us all a place to laugh.

Next group of comedians that Miller is bringing to the Chit Chat Café will arrive on the 25th of October. See www.thecomedyworkoutroom.com for details.

Caine Hörr (The Amazing Caine), Dan Edwards, Lynn Ruth Miller, Ken Koskella and David Guilmette. Photo by Jean Bartlett, Arts Correspondent, Pacifica Tribune.