So Ali Davis, who began an online journal called True PrOn Clerk Stories in early 2002 (you may have heard of her – she was on NPR, and for a while there, there was a huge buzz about her hilarious online journal), has turned her stories into a one-woman show which I saw two nights ago. Here is her website, for more information.
A bit of background for those of you who missed the original PrOn Clerk excitement: Ali Davis is a comedian, an actress, an improviser. To make ends meet she got a job in her local video store, a store known for its huge collection of “dirty movies”.
First of all: if you ever see that Ali Davis is performing in your ‘hood, you must check her show out.
There are many levels to these stories: Most importantly, they are HILARIOUS. The things she chooses to highlight, the behavior she notices, what it is like being around X-rated movies all day long, etc. There is also the what I would call anthropological level. She learns a ton about human nature from working in a prOn video store. All of this is presented in a non-strident and absolutely rollicking way. The house was packed the other night, and there were times when, helpless with laughter, I glanced around, and saw the entire audience rocking back and forth with laughter, a sea of open laughing mouths. Gorgeous.
In lieu of Ali Davis coming to a theatre near you:
If you have some free time, and want a FUNNY FUNNY read, here are her journals called True PrOn Clerk Stories.
(Changed the spelling for obvious reasons. Don’t want to come up on Google when people do a search…)
hmmm, that would make it pr0n0graphE ?