This week, we've had a a couple of meetings. We've worked out the structure we're going to use on Saturday, decided what we'll wear, and found out that we all hate the game "World's Worst." (Mostly because we all suck at it, but don't tell anyone that, okay?)

Last night, however, I began to have some doubts. I wondered if it was even appropriate to perform comedy at all, considering how effed up the whole world is right now.

I think it is.

When I got in my car after our meeting on Tuesday night, I realized that for the two hours we worked out, I didn't think about war, or death, or pain, or suffering, or anything like that. I had fun, I laughed so hard I had to beg Kurt to stop doing his "Scotty," and I left feeling energized.

If you can make it out to a show -- any show -- I say go for it. It's good to laugh right now.

UPDATE: Wendy, a fellow performer and WWDN reader, sent this in:

Hey, Wil.

I've performed live theatre in wartime before, and I thought I should share
the experience. I, too, questioned the ethics of performing a frivolous work
while our world was being put through a blender. but it was too late to turn
back, and I learned a valuable lesson.

The audience will come to see you because they *need* you. There has to be a
release for them, whether it's on a subconscious level, or if they are just
craving an escape from CNN. This is the entire reason performing arts are
still around after all these centuries of violence and hatred.

We all have that need for hope; for a phoenix to rise from the ashes. Comedy
in times of tragedy reminds us of that. Sometimes the audience reaction will
not be exactly what you expect; when you pull a laugh from them, you might
get tears, too; but your audience will still be glad they came.

My two cents; enjoy your show!

Wendy

I haven't thought about an audience "needing" the performers. It's nice to think of this silly thing we do as something that helps people get through a difficult time.