Reviewer: Beth Detloff
Venue: The Temple Theatre
One thing was proven last night at the Temple Theatre, Midwesterners will show up for a Wednesday night comedy performance especially when that comedian happens to be Midwest’s finest Charlie Berens.
With the official start of the fall season, it seemed every flannel and plaid took to the seats in the Temple Theatre. Many an Ope could be heard in the refreshment line as ticket holders headed to their seats. Patrons were delighted to find the Temple had a themed cocktail for the appearance of the comic. The cocktail being none other than a “good” old-fashioned. This is on brand for Berens who is currently traveling the country with his new comedy tour titled Good Old Fashioned Tour. The tour title is also tied to the brandy Berens released with a distillery in Wisconsin.
Comedian Ramon Rivas opened with observational humor and Ohio jokes. He drew a lot of parallel lines between Michigan and Ohio that had the crowd in stitches. His comedy album, Ramon Rivas Revisted, is worth giving a listen to on Spotify. Rivas has a unique voice with a slow build-up to big punchlines.
In case you are the one Midwesterner who does not know what Ope stands for, it is a common Midwest slang word that can mean oops or sorry. The stage with lit up with a big sign that said just that. The amusing colloquialism is most used in the sentence “Ope lemme squeeze right past ya.” Midwesterners have always known they were a funny group of people. Now with the help of Berens, everyone else does too!
Berens uses his own life as fodder for his show. His jokes run such a range that they ensure there is something for everyone in attendance. Jokes included hunting, millennials, Catholic, and big family humor. There is a reason that Berens became a New York Times bestseller with his book The Midwest Survival Guide: How We Talk, Love, Work, Drink, and Eat . . . Everything with Ranch. While ranch was not mentioned there were plenty that had the audience murmuring in agreement.
Berens started off by heading into the audience. He talked to a woman in the front row who traveled all the way from Indiana. As Berens mentioned, the Temple is a gorgeous, historic theatre that Saginaw is lucky and proud to have!
The show seemed to fly by as Berens showed videos and clips from a segment he is famous for, the Manitowoc Minute. Berens even included some sites from around Saginaw like Tony’s famous restaurant and the colorful silo mural that was just painted this past summer. Matt, from Bay City, stayed for the meet and greet after. He shared that Berens’ Midwestern hospitality continued even after the show. He did not, however, eat a steak sandwich at Tony’s. Well, there is always next time Charlie!
Charlie Berens makes the audience feel like part of the family. Part of the big, twelve sibling, group text, gambling Grandma, family. Along with the hysterical articles and videos provided in the Manitowoc Minute, Berens showed some video footage of taking his Grandma and Aunt to the casino. This video is as heartwarming as it is hilarious. Beren made sure the audience got the Midwest I Love You, “Watch out for deer!”
All these great events that have been happening at the Temple Theatre this season have us looking at what is next, and excited to see what names appear next year! There is still plenty of entertainment that you can wear your flannel shirts to, including Rob Schneider and Get The Led Out this weekend. On your way to the theatre remember this hot Charlie Berens tip, “you can’t judge a person by their bumper sticker!”