Reviewer: Beth Detloff
Venue: The Temple Theatre
Steve Martin and Martin Short visit the Temple Theatre in Saginaw Michigan as part of the Dukes of Funnytown Tour accompanied by Jeff Babko and The Steep Canyon Rangers
Is everyone okay? I ask because there is a chance the muscles in your face have yet to recover from two hours of non-stop smiling and laughing. Friday night two comedy legends took the stage at the Temple Theatre. The hype that has been surrounding this show since the Temple announced has been unreal. Saginaw? Yes, thanks to the Temple Theatre and its staff the acts that have been coming to Saginaw are nothing short of amazing. And why not, clearly the gorgeous theatre is the perfect setting for the wide array of events they have been showcasing the last few years.
It seemed everyone descended into Saginaw for Friday nights show with Steve Martin and Martin Short. For months the buzz surrounding this show was along the lines of, “I cannot believe such great comedians are coming to Saginaw!” Their new show titled, The Dukes of Funnytown, is a wonderful variety show. Martin and Short sang and danced, there were costume changes, a live band, celebrity commentary, and current event jokes that were actually funny instead of slightly offensive. This may be due to the fact that watching Steve Martin and Martin Short on stage is like watching your two funny, and slightly odd uncles. One of which always brings a banjo to family events.
I think a truly special part of the show was when the two shared family photos and snippets from their long lives and careers. Steve Martin is seventy-nine and Martin Short is seventy-four. So it was unique to get this extra background information during the show. That is the privilege of living a long life, being able to share moments in your own history. They get to do it on stage in front of hundreds of people every night. Speaking of being in their seventies can someone provide the vitamin regimen of Martin Short? He jumped up onto the piano, and flopped around on stage until tears were springing into the audience’s eyes, not to mention at least three costume changes. They promised no nudity during the show but got pretty darn close. The duo poke endless fun at each other, and of course their ages. A great bit toward the end of the show about which of them would be delivering a eulogy first. Neither show signs of slowing down so it’s hard to say which will win that bet.
Steve Martin and Martin Short have had the great privilege of remaining relevant and eternally funny generation after generation. They have captivated young audiences again with their latest Hulu hit, Only Murders in the Building. Currently filming season four these two comedic friends show no signs of stopping, unless it is to a stage in your town. The crowd that filled the theatre was spanning every generation. Elle Rabior, a 26 year old fan from Saginaw, said she has been looking forward to this show for months. She is not just a fan of Only Murders, she loves their earlier works from the eighties and nineties. Marin and Short have a work and personal relationship that spans almost four decades, and their fans have been happily along for the ride just as long.
There was not an intermission during the two hour show, instead Steve Martin was accompanied on stage by the Steep Canyon Rangers. The crowd was all too happy to clap along with the amazing bluegrass stylings. Being a pretty big folk music fan myself this felt like a great way to give everyone’s face muscles a break. Steve Martin began collaborating with the popular group in 2009 and now brings them along for the Funnytown shows. If you are looking for a great way to spend your Saturday I suggest popping Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers on your speakers and throwing some chili in the crockpot. Queue up The Three Amigos and have a few laughs with your family on this fall night.
The Dukes of Funnytown show will actually be back in Michigan in November in Detroit. If you are looking for closer laughs, the kind that makes your face hurt the next day then you should check out the roster at the Temple Theatre. They still have Charlie Berens, Rob Schneider, and Desi Banks upcoming. Or keep the funny train going this weekend with John Crist on Sunday October 6th.