Steve Martin and Martin Short brought laugh-filled performance to the Fabulous Fox
–By Sean Derrick
Comedic icons Steve Martin and Martin Short continued their wildly successful touring live show with a stop in Saint Louis last Thursday. The duo performed for a sold-out crowd at the Fabulous Fox Theatre and the crowd certainly didn’t go home disappointed.
Martin and Short spent most of the evening trading playful jabs at each other that they referred to as “Hollywood Compliments” in a fast-paced style that kept the audience roaring with laughter.
One-liners like Martin quipping “You know what I like about touring with Marty? No paparazzi.” Short would have comebacks like “hanging out with Steve is a lot like the movie “Deliverance”, it’s all fun and games until the banjos come out.”
Martin, who abruptly quit touring as a stand up comic way back in 1981 has focused his attention on a successful acting career and has toured with the Steep Canyon Rangers, a successful bluegrass group where he is an accomplished banjoist and occasional vocalist.
After a 5 minute montage of some of their most famous scenes/stand-up routines and exclaiming “Steve Martin and Martin Short, see them before they are dead” they started off onstage together trading jabs, before bringing up three audience members to help them recreate their famous “Three Amigos salute” while Martin and Short sang “The Ballad of the Three Amigos” from their 1986 film ¡Three Amigos!
They then rested in big leather chairs and Martin reminisced about his excitement in meeting Elvis, but began looking for his own way out of the conversation after the King rambled on endlessly about his guns. Short, meanwhile, relayed a story about his most embarrassing moment, in that he accidentally and unknowingly exposed himself to a female crew member.
Short, not lacking in energy for the night, then did a solo skit where he would tell stories with exaggerated flair and pinnace. This coupled with goofy visuals and wild stage antics (like climbing onto the piano over the pianist), or stripping down to a full-length body suit and performing a hilarious recreation of “Stepbrother to Jesus” from the 1972 off-Broadway play “The Lord Jesus Christ and full-frontal nudity”. “Top that M***** F*****!” Short exclaimed to Martin as Martin came out to do his solo part.
“After the show I’m so relaxed,” Martin said “and Marty is completely exhausted.”
Martin performed “Audin’s Train” with the Steep Canyon Rangers and showcased his prowess on the banjo while delivering one liners between songs.
The duo would also utilize the big video screen behind them to rip on politicians (from both sides of the aisle, and foreign leaders), including North Korean leader Kim Jong In, who Martin said looks like a bouncer at a lesbian bar. And when a picture of Vice President Mike Pence popped up Short exclaimed “that guy is so white he makes you (Martin) look like a member of the Wu-Tang Clan!”
The show was billed as “An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Lives.” After seeing this I can honestly say it will be a long, long time before I forget about this classic. I never had so much trouble keeping my camera and lens steady from laughing so much. If you don’t feel the same if you see this tour then check yourself into a hospital, something is terribly wrong with you.
This is great! Looks like a good time and you took some incredible photos.
Thanks Jonathon!