Speaking of Stories kicks off 2014, and its 20th season, with “Nothing but Laughs,” its annual show of humorous tales. Maybe it’s a sign that the funniest comedy writers now work in the non-fiction essay format, or maybe it’s just pure coincidence, but the line-up for the two shows this Sunday and Monday at Center Stage Theater is all in the hilarious-but-true tradition.
The line-up for Sunday and Monday feature five Speaking of … regulars, all five of whom are also adept at comedy. Katie Thatcher will read Sloane Crosley’s childhood tale, “The Pony Problem;” Meredith McMinn will read Nora Ephron’s aging-ritual tale, “I Feel Bad About My Neck;” Devin Scott — the youngest of the performers — will read Michael Thomas Ford’s confessional, “The F Word;” Tom Hinshaw will take on David Rakoff’s mountain climbing story, “In New England Everyone Calls You Dave;” and Robert Lesser caps things off with Paul Rudnick’s sugar-holic tale, “Good Enough to Eat.” Executive director, Maggie Mixsell has made sure each performer really matches the personality of the writer. Well, as closely as possible.
The late Mr. Rakoff was more cynical than Mr. Hinshaw, but the actor loves a role like this, he says. For Mr. Hinshaw, the idea of this urbanite not in the best health, electing to join a man who hikes a mountain every day … that’s just funny. “But like any good tale, the experience moves the author and that comes out in the story,” he says. Plus, “I’m happy to just sit down and tell somebody a story. It’s a passion for me.”
All the performers here have read their share of serious stories for the series, but for Mr. Lesser — who has a reputation for being a hilarious guy — finds funny things even in the tragic moments. “I’m a late-blooming tragedian,” he laughs. One of his favorite Speaking of Stories’ moments was reading Woody Allen’s tale that reimagined Van Gogh as a dentist and featured Mr. Lesser in a dentist smock and bloody bandage.
“Good Enough to Eat” is Mr. Rudnick’s food confession, revealing his fine metabolism in the face of sweets. He fends off people who are concerned about his health.
“Rudnick is a great voice, a great humorist and storyteller,” Mr. Lesser says. “And he’s just fun.”
Devin Scott’s story, “The F Word” is from the perspective of a humor writer who despite making people laugh for a living, doesn’t like to have fun, nor does he understand people who do. “I guess the funniest stories come from real life,” Scott muses.
For all the actors, it’s a chance to hang out on performance night, as before this they rehearse separately. Mr. Lesser jokes that it’s a relaxing evening, unless you are last to read, then “it’s nerves right up to the end.”
“I compare the show to a bedtime story in the best sense of the word — not something that will send you to sleep,” adds Scott. “Every once in a while, it’s nice to sit back, relax and have someone tell you a story — and do it really well.”
Speaking of Stories: ‘Nothing but Laughs’
When: 2 p.m. Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Monday
Where: Center Stage Theater,751 Paseo Nuevo
Cost: $28/$18
Information: 966-3875, speakingofstories.org