Courtesy of Robert Kinnard/Hofstra Chronicle
Chris Fleming, a popular comedian known for his web series “Gayle” and other popular comedy videos on YouTube, performed at Hofstra on Thursday, Feb. 6. The free stand-up show was put on by several of Hofstra’s LGBTQ organizations: the Gender Identity Alliance, Queer Trans People of Color Coalition and The Pride Network, along with Hofstra’s Organization for Sexual Empowerment and Nonsense Humor Magazine.
Throngs of people filled the lobby of Monroe Lecture Hall as they anxiously waited for the doors to open. The theater quickly filled and audience members seemed more than happy to be there. After a brief introduction from the event’s sponsors, Fleming took the stage. His bright orange pants lit up the stage and the room erupted with excitement as the show began.
Fleming’s comedy style appeals to a specific brand of people, as some of it is very niche and (for lack of a better word) weird. He is a hilarious, lanky man who defies conventions of gender and masculinity, appealing to girls, gays, theater kids and anyone else who can identify with his unique sense of humor. His style has a “new age” feel that is unique to the current generation of young comedians and heavily resonates with college-aged people. Fleming engaged with the audience as well, poking fun at Hofstra’s undeniable “improv energy” and even stopping for a second to ask an audience member for the time.
Fleming’s show was unique because it relied on a variety of elements. From simply telling funny stories to performing his ridiculous songs and brief slideshow presentations, he had the room engaged the entire time. One of the show’s highlights was his song, “The Grad Student Shuffle,” to which even a room full of undergrads could relate. Another moment that had the audience dying was his deep analysis of John Travolta’s acting at the end of the movie “Grease.”
Unfortunately, the show did have its issues. The lighting was inaccessible to the crew working the event, nearly leaving Fleming in the dark. Luckily the lack of lights wasn’t deeply distracting and didn’t take away from the quality of the performance. There were a handful of microphone and sound problems, but those were quickly fixed. Fleming handled the technical mishaps with grace, never letting his energy dwindle.
Chris Fleming’s comedy show was an excellent event. He clearly loves what he does and even took the time to talk with fans after the show, stopping for pictures and joking around with students. The show can only be described as a success for all organizations involved.
