Chris Rock

Orpheum Theater

Boston

Feb. 20

BOSTON – For hardcore fans of black comedy such as the show “Comic View,” seeing Chris Rock live in concert is akin to Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls coming back from the dead and doing a tour together. For many hardcore comedy fans, to see Chris Rock was an opportunity to induce a foot stomping, seizure-driven laughter.

In Boston’s Orpheum Theater, the lack of diversity in the crowd was troubling, with most of the audience not members of Rock’s target audience. Out of the nearly 2,000 people attending the event, maybe only 15 were minorities. Would Chris Rock hold back, or would he adhere to his normal policy of a “no holds barred” comedic routine, given the makeup of the audience? How would Rock respond to an audience filled with people who were likely not who he had in mind when scripting his act?

The curtains went up and the man, the myth, the legend himself – Chris Rock – came out to a chaotic, wild standing ovation. He started off saying how much he loved Boston and even had a summerhouse in South Boston. To many in the audience, the comment held a humorous implication and cut some of the tension in the crowd. Yet within the Orpheum there seemed to be a vibe throughout Rock’s set that the audience wished him to not to go too far. The comedian seemed to be very aware that he was walking a thin line and seemed somewhat restrained when performing his routine.

Overall, his performance was outstanding, with Rock making cracks about racial issues in the U.S.

“The difference between white people and black people is there are no wealthy black people. There’s a difference. Shaq is rich, the white man that signs his check is wealthy.”

Exotic dancers were also mentioned in the routine. “When did clear shoes become a stripper thing?” Rock questioned.

The comedian spent sometime exploring relationships, but in one bit, proved no one was safe from his comedic eye. Michael Jackson, the topic of conversation for many in America, didn’t escape Rock’s wit.

“Another kid? Another kid?” he exclaimed. “That’s like another dead white girl showing up at O.J.’s house.”

Even magician Roy Horn and rapper Biggie made it into the act; Roy’s tiger attack (”That tiger didn’t go crazy, that tiger went tiger.”) and lack of effort on the government’s part to find killers of rap artists (“It shouldn’t be that hard, Biggie weighed about 400 pounds, so they had to shoot him for a while.”)

Chris Rock ended his show leaving his core audience satisfied. A few, such as an old stuffy male leaning against a stairwell being consoled by an usher as he murmured in disbelief over the usage of the word “cracker” and other obscenities in the show, seemed surprised.

The show opened with a former writer for the Chris Rock show, Mario Joyner, taking the stage. He set the mood for what the show would be like by saying, “If you’re offended by the word ‘cracker’ leave now, because you’re gonna hear it a lot tonight!”

Mario Joyner is your mediocre, run-of-the-mill black comedian with nothing special about his act to separate him from the hundreds of others out there, doing the same thing. He seems destined to fall into comedian obscurity, most likely sooner than later.