Press
"A
welcome reminder of a time when comedy cut a lot closer
to the issues of the day than most comics now dare."
- Dallas Morning News
"Up
next was Kreisler with his special brand of political
and social humour. It's easy to see why he won the inaugural
(sic) 'Bill Hicks Spirit Award For Thought-Provoking
Comedy'; he tore into politics, race and religion in
a similar style to Hicks, but with his own personal
slant and some very acute and funny observations...
This is one show that will have you laughing from start
to finish and is probably one of the best comedy shows
at the Fringe..."
- Fresh Air at The Festival
"An
hour of excellent comedy... Jeff Kreisler does clever,
well-presented political stuff... "
-
The Scotsman
"The
highlight of this all-American evening was final act
Kreisler, who, with slow, dry rigour, pulled apart America..."
-
Three Weeks
"A
sweet-faced cherub with dark eyes that promise all manner
of chaos... Kreisler changes the pace a bit with a slightly
demented, extremely animated set that attacks everything
from Laura Bush ("setting womankind back a hundred
years") to trickle-down economics ("the rich
peeing on the poor.")
"During
one rant he lowers himself onto the stage -- a child
having a tantrum in slow motion -- while shrieking words
like Enron! Weapons of mass destruction! War in Iraq!
The three other comics, standing in the back of the
bar, crane their necks to see the fireworks, grinning
broadly. Piraro breaks into applause.
"Kreisler,
like a train with a head of steam... concludes quickly
by saying, 'If you disagree with me, I'm open to talking!
Come find me ... so I can punch you and run.'"
- San Francisco Chronicle
"Funny
and on-fire Jeff Kreisler followed, snarling about 'Arnold
Schwartzenreagan', railing against attack ads and injecting
some powerful and pointed political barbs on both sides.
With wild, dark eyes and a disarming grin, he began
a 'dialogue' with his microphone, which escalated into
a screaming/wrestling match ending with him rolling
around on the floor. I think the microphone won."
- San Francisco Herald
"Other highlights during the two non-billable hours of entertainment
included lawyer-turned-comic Jeff Kreisler's take on
campaign attack ads (''Bill Baloney. Good for Islamic
Fundamentalism. Bad for New Jersey.'')"
- The New York Times
"Kreisler's
comedy style had a wonderful, dark theatrical approach
that had himself at times being interrupted by his alter
ego of his higher-pitched microphone, cracking the whole
room up."
- Theater2k.com
"Kreisler
took to the stage with the heavy weight of having received
the Bill Hicks Spirit Award. Introducing a comedian
by comparing to them to the revered Hicks is always
iffy, unless you happen to be able to walk on water.
Nevertheless Kreisler wasn't bad, with a slick, eloquent
routine... Amusing and thought-provoking in his opinions
on the Bush administration and world politics... Altogether
an enjoyable slice of comedy from the other side of
the Atlantic."
- * * * Chortle
"Jeff Kreisler began his stand-up career at an unlikely
event: a Princeton student production of Flowers for
Algernon... People laughed, and Kreisler got his first
taste of... being what he calls a court jester: 'You
get to talk about the important things but as long as
you're a little goofy, you can speak the truth.' In
Kreisler's case the important things include political
and social topics (which) don't usually make it into
the stand-up scene...
"He says (his material) is partly a matter of opportunity
- 'If the Democrats were in power I'd be skewering them'
- and partly because his own politics are progressive.
When he's performing at more traditional venues, he
says he tones it down...
"Still, he doesn't shy away from sensitive issues.
One of his best experiences came when he traveled to
West Virginia to do a show for a conservative audience.
'Afterwards I had two hours of conversation with people
about religion,' he says. Not only did it help him refine
his act, he says there was a real dialogue going
on among people with opposing viewpoints, something
that rarely happens in today's polarized political arena.
'Comedy,' he says, 'can be a way to open communication.'"
- Princeton
Alumni Weekly (more here)
"Critic's
Choice"
- San Francisco Bay Guardian
"Don't Miss..." -
Time Out New York (about
Comics Against Evil)
Praise
"Jeff
Kreisler and his Comedy Against Evil show were amazing.
Jeff's act was thought provoking, edgy, and quite hilarious.
We're definitely asking him back next year because he
had all of us on the floor laughing for an entire hour."
- Georgetown University
"The
'Comedy Against Evil' performance was amazingly funny.
It was political comedy at its finest: nothing sanitized,
nothing off-limits, and frighteningly true to life."
- Case Democrats
"All
the feedback was insanely positive and you helped us start
off a great weekend. We couldn't have anticipated a better
show and you exceeded all expectations. You all had everyone
laughing, including the lone conservative sitting in the
front row."
-President, Democrats of Clark University & Liaison,
College Democrats of Massachusetts
"I
could not have asked for a better event! One of the best
ways to involve new members and have a great time!"
- President, Boston College Democrats
"'Comedy
Against Evil' was the most fun I've ever had at a political
event. If candidates were smart they would hire these
guys to spread the Democratic philosophy instead of reciting
their stump speeches countless times."
- Case Democrats
"Everyone who attended your show thought it was hilarious.
The College Democrats were delighted to meet you and Sean
and hear your humorous and accurate descriptions the world...
If I may, your candid comedy message along with others
like Dave Chappelle is tearing away at these comfort barriers
which we have constructed around groups foreign to shield
ourselves from change... Everyone needs humor in their
life. What's the point of living if you aren't happy and
can't laugh? You have an amazing gift that helps people
remember life isn't always so serious. Keep up the good
work man, I expect great things out of you."
- President, Wittenberg College Democrats
"Comedy Against Evil was truly a great
evening. They found comedy in both Republican policy and
the political world in general, giving us a much needed
laugh in the midst of finals"
- Columbia University College
Democrats
"Thank
you VERY MUCH for coming down to Tampa Bay last week!
Everyone loved the show, and you guys hit it all. Our
Vice Chairman had this to say to our membership the next
day: "The comedy duo was very much on target". The evening
was a great success as a fundraiser, and Comedy Against
Evil was the perfect way to wrap up the event. Thanks
again! We'll probably invite you down again soon."
- Pasco County (Florida) Democrat Committee
"Comedy Against was awesome for
a school like ours that never has anyone amazing come
to celebrate the likeminded outspoken progressives that
refuse to be drowned out the status quo. Truly amazing
and a triumph for ND DEMS!"
- University of Notre Dame
"I
thought they were very good and entertained very well.
I liked that it was classy humor and thoughtful humor,
not just Bush bashing."
- Case Democrats
"Thanks
so much for coming. We're happy to have had you, and I
think the show was a great success... The Paris Hilton/Anne
Coulter bit was hilarious; I've gotten several comments
on that one. It really is a great theory... Overall I
think the show was great, and it was an excellent way
for us to get our name out on campus. With a turnout,
by your estimates, of 80 people, I couldn't be happier.
I hope you enjoyed your visit to Dallas, and please do
shoot me an e-mail if you're in the area again."
- President, College Democrats, University of Texas-Dallas
"We
had a blast!... It was very funny; I particularly like
your criticism of Condi Rice...as well as Barry's 'Deer
attack in waves'... It was great; we were all laughing
like crazy (I'm serious, remember, if Central New Yorkers
are laughing a good deal, then you know that it's really
funny). Thanks, and good luck with future shows."
-President, Syracuse College Democrats
"Thank
you both for coming to UWM- we really appreciate it, and
have had awesome feedback from people who saw the show."
- President, College Democrats of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
"Thanks for the big boost
you gave this campaign. With the money you made
possible, we can buy a list of 10,000 unregistered women
voters in Oregon to call, write, and get registered... We hope the goodwill you've shown us will
come back your way."
- ReDefeat Bush of the SF Bay Area
"Thank you so much for an awesome
show! I got a lot of great feed-back from friends and
people who saw you guys, and it seemed like they really
liked your material."
- Kenyon College
"Thank
you! It was great having you - we really enjoyed it. Thanks
for supporting the filibuster!"
-
Frist
Filibuster at Princeton Univesity
Reference from the Executive Director of the World
Affairs Council. Click Here.
Kyra
Bobinet, Executive Director, Vision Youthz:
"Thank
you in endless words & praises for the amazing Comic Rhythm.
At a time when it was unfathomable, you created a beautiful
opportunity for laughter and meaning. This is truly a
miracle, and I feel that it will bestow great blessings
upon the youth and all of us. I appreciate that you went
the distance and contributed your gifts in a beneficial
way. The true meaning is all about connection."
Press
Colgate
Maroon News - review of Comedy Against Evil
The
Scarlet (Clark University's School Paper): "What
does one think of when one hears the phrase, "Comedy
Against Evil?" Here's what pops into my head: an
image of a comedic super-group bound together to fight
the forces of evil: like the X-Men, only slightly funnier.
Comedy Against Evil is just that... The stand-up show
Friday night was an onslaught of liberal humor, starting
off with opener Baratunde Rafiq Thurston... Next up was
Jeff Kreisler, the group's founder (who) implemented his
specific political beliefs into his routine a little more...
His comparison of medicinal marijuana and today's FDA-approved
drugs was funny and thought provoking... The headlining
comedian was Barry Weintraub (who) was well received,
especially during "Name That Bush," a game in
which members of the audience were asked to name the member
of the Bush family who was responsible for the contemptible
act stated by Weintraub... As for students getting politically
involved, (the group) suggested becoming up to date on
current events by expanding their political news sources."
The following coverage
is for Bizarro's PolitiComedy A-Go-Go, the seven-month
tour that was the first major Confusion Laughter Peace
Production:
* * * *
Performers Press - see individual
websites.
Other Love
Tom Rhodes, comic artist from July
2001:
"(The
show at) the Tongue and Groove is Comedy at it's most
ass spankin' with a collection of hipsters in an intimate
setting befitting my boyhood dreams of show business,the
only thing missing from the way I dreamed it as a
boy is pimps in wide brim hats and Anne Margarette's
loving arms waiting for me when I came down off stage."
Derek Austin, after the Austin 30th
Birth Anniversary Special:
"Wow. Great show. Thank you for
performing."
Letter of recommendation
from one club owner
Letter of recommendation
from another
Audience
Feedback (for Comics Against Evil)
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