There are very few stand-up comedians who can be as compelling on the big screen as they are live in a club. Richard Pryor is one of the best, and nothing showcases his talents better than his first film, Richard Pryor: Live in Concert.Filmed at the Terrace Theatre in Long Beach, California, the film is a 90-minute lesson in stand-up, from how to work the crowds to how to create characters and tell stories that are more than just simple setups for a punch line.
From the minute he struts onto the stage, Pryor is in complete control of his craft. He playfully taunts the audience as they rush back to their seats, like a great jazz player playing warm-up scales to see how his instrument sounds before he gets down to playing the first song.
Once the people settle in, Pryor starts to play. He starts telling stories – he’s not the kind of comic who depends on jokes – that range from observational humor on what makes us different, to equally sharp comments on how we are really all the same. He uses a lot of personal references in his material, too, leaving nothing out of the mix which is a brave decision given the fact that at the time of this show, his life was more than a bit of a mess.
Describing any of what he talks about, however, would only take away from the magic of watching the man himself. Do yourself a favor. Rent this DVD and spend an evening with Richard Pryor: Live in Concert.
Starring Richard Pryor.
IMDB Site.
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