Tonight, Feb. 18, is one more within the sequence of Comedy Nights offered by The Reel and Model. The sequence has been alive and properly, struggling a minor COVID setback, sure, however alive and properly for some three years now. The present tonight will likely be held indoors within the venerable ballroom of the outdated El Verano roadhouse. Restricted seats can be found, and reservations are required if you happen to hope to get pleasure from a yummy dinner earlier than the present.
The leisure tonight will characteristic headliner Alfonso Portela, supported by Luisa Isbell and Max Eddy. The present will likely be hosted by Tony Zavala. All 4 of the oldsters onstage tonight are skilled yucksters with their very own kinds of comedy, and are certain to maintain you within the good form of stitches.
Portela hails from Sacramento, a spot the place laughs, guffaws and groans are steadily heard all through the chambers of the State Capitol. A nine-year comedy veteran, Portela isn’t the form of comedian to dwell on politics, nonetheless. He’s “pretty irreverent, however not heady” in his model. In a telephone name from his resort room the place he was spending time earlier than his Saturday evening gig in Grants Cross Oregon, he mentioned, “I’m a reasonably animated, theatrical performer.”
He talks about “scenes and vignettes” from life as he is aware of it. He advised a shaggy dog story of an on a regular basis prevalence witnessed whereas searching the window of that resort, the place he had a “beautiful view” of the In-N-Out drive by.
Regardless of having been lively for nearly a decade, Portela mentioned he’s “consistently altering issues out, including phrases, reducing out phrases…typically there’s a joke that I work and carry out till there isn’t a extra life in it, then I rework it…I really like doing that. I really like engaged on materials, letting it develop and alter.”
In these 9 years, his act has turn out to be “extra polished. Whereas it’s nonetheless fairly animated, I now have a mellower demeanor onstage now. I used to leap round onstage. However I’ve discovered that there’s a microphone on stage, and I don’t need to be yelling at folks.” Portela added, “My efficiency has turn out to be tighter, and I’m extra assured now.”
Portela spoke extra about his act, “I inform tales primarily based on my life, my id, private life and household, wishes, desires and fears… issues like that.” He talks about his household, “My pops, my brother…my sister was form of upset at one level as a result of I didn’t have something in my act about her. She felt overlooked. It appears to be a badge of honor to be included.”
As a highschool scholar, Portela attended a performing arts-based college, accounting for the theatrical bent of his act. He’s additionally a drummer in his spare time, thus capable of present his personal rim pictures when needed.
The second comedian on the invoice is Luisa Isbell. She was raised in Florida, and has lived within the Bay Space, “approach longer than I ever thought. I moved right here sight unseen for a job and simply assumed I might be right here for a few years, however I find it irresistible! I can’t think about dwelling anyplace else,” Isbell mentioned.
Since being right here, Isbell has turn out to be an everyday at lots of the native comedy golf equipment, regardless that she hopes her dad and mom by no means present up. A full-time honcho at a nonprofit for an actual job makes her household proud, however her matters onstage could be a bit too provocative.
Her web site signifies that Isbell “strives to grasp the artwork of the tasteful overshare. Her comedy sneaks up on you, autobiographical anecdotes delivered with a heat and winking deadpan.” Certainly, our phone dialog was straightforward, pleasant and enjoyable. Isbell mentioned, “I’m real-life approachable. I like to speak about my very own experiences. I’m not a set-up/punchline sort of comedian. I’m part of the storytelling neighborhood in San Francisco in addition to the enhance neighborhood, so my standup is knowledgeable by these worlds.”
Opening the 8 p.m. present will likely be Max Eddy, a self-described “queer slapstick comedian primarily based within the Bay Space comedy scene.” He’s apt to debate the “queer expertise” and dwelling along with his dad and mom throughout the pandemic. Eddy is an everyday on the Punch Line and Cobb’s Comedy Membership.
Tickets for this present can be found at Eventbrite.com. For much more data, contact the Reel at Data@reelandbrand.internet.