Chicago Tribune March 25, 2002 Comedy Review Janeane Garofalo searches for the truth by Chris Jones Tribune arts reporter
Around 10:15 on Saturday night, Janeane Garofalo stole a glance at her watch and let out a gurgle of amazement. "Oh, wow," she spluttered, staring down at the tattered cheat sheet sitting on the stool beside her on the stage of the Cadillac Palace Theatre. "And I haven't even told you about . . . oh, I do go on."
By then, Garofalo had gone on for at least 100 minutes. She had condemned Britney Spears as a "glorified pole dancer," declared that the clocks on stairmasters always ran slow, and suggested that anyone looking for an appropriate litmus test for a bad relationship might want to consider the experience of Eva Braun. And her growing number of fans, who now make it possible for her to sell out big comedy venues such as the Palace, seemed in no hurry for her to stop.
Garofalo generally is regarded as an actress and comedian who, by and large, has refused to play Hollywood's games, even to the detriment of her own career. And it is this anti-establishment stance, expressed by her highly erudite stand-up routine in gently feminist terms, that endears her to an audience looking for comedic truths from someone who feels like a peer.
Wearing headgear reminiscent of a tea cozy, and an intentionally shapeless plastic coat, Garofalo has a thing or three to say about the objectification of women. When her head emerged from the wool thing at the end of the night, it was to complain that she had done a poor job of cutt ing her own bangs.
"I could have charmed you," Garofalo lamented, pulling hopelessly on her hair, "like Amelie." She spit out the name of the fictional cinematic provocateur like it was an especially lethal form of acid. Garofalo is a self-defined liberal of the Ralph Nader stipe, albeit an unthreatening one. This leads her to some obvious and predictable political humor - such as the lampooning of the President's command of language. But there's zestier topical fare too -- like linking the movie "Eyes Wide Shut" with the Vice-President's secret energy meetings.
It took a while for Garofalo to warm up. Two lamebrain, slacker-type opening acts did not help, and she doesn't yet feel entirely comfortable with such a big venue and the requisite need for more structure. But there are few comics around who can pound such a long, detailed, whip-smart and constantly funny critique of popular culture. Along with some self-revelation about the dangers of alcohol, Garofalo also is clever with insider talk.
"I like to read books," she says with a wink before going on about television shows, "but it's not so much of a common experience."
She has nothing to worry about it. Her fans show up precisely because she's one of the few comics who knows the difference.