Featuring comedy that’s more Vaudeville than vulgar and more wacky than warped, Fun Night Live bills itself as smart and classy comedy and music. An eclectic group of amateur performers fills about two hours in an intimate space in the back of The Spot Café & Lounge in Culver City.
The evening is spearheaded by Eddie Ed O’Brien, a throwback funnyman in an oversized plaid blazer, who welcomes his audience with his own brand of Vegas-lounge humor. His musical wife, Marcie O’Brien, also sings and plays violin (a skill which she’s been performing since age 5). The show cycles through a dozen performers, most of them regulars, who supply the evening’s laughs and music. Most are new to the stage, working on their material in a familial setting. The comedians present a variety of comedic styles, from painful observations about real life (“Why can’t piñatas have anything you need in them, like self-esteem or a mother’s love?”) to rim-shot one-liners (“People get offended when I dress up like the pope. Well, I get offended when he does.”).
The scene is primarily composed of friends and supporters of the artists, but they seem to feed off the energy of the crowd and would do well with more supporters. There is a $7 admission charge, which goes toward food and beverage. The Spot offers, among other items, a menu full of great sandwiches and salads, specialty coffees and other drinks, including a variety of Italian sodas.
The next performance of Fun Night Live is Oct. 1 at The Spot Café & Lounge, 4455 Overland Ave., Culver City. For more information, call (310) 559-8868.