Many comedians, including actor/comedian Peter Fogel, will tell you that the funniest things that make people laugh are the absurd realities that happen to all of us every day.
The veteran 66-year-old Fogel from Delray Beach, who has performed stand up comedy for over 30 years, hopes to strike gold with tales from his everyday life in his new stand up comedy show titled “This Too Shall Pass…Like A Kidney Stone” to debut at the Boca Black Box Center for the Arts in Boca Raton in three shows from January 3-4.
Fogel will discuss topics pertinent to him that will also resonate with many seniors, such as coping with gated communities, medical procedures, travelling and new advances in technology, among other subjects.
“This show is written for the baby boomers and seniors, all of us going through the same experiences. The audiences will strongly identify with the humor and reality of life as a baby boomer in South Florida,” said Fogel.
For example, Fogel does a series of jokes on undergoing a colonoscopy, a medical procedure that many in his audience had.
Comedian Peter Fogel in “This Too Shall Pass…Like A Kidney Stone” from January 3-4 at Boca Black Box in Boca Raton.
“Before I undergo the procedure, the receptionist asks me for personal ID, an insurance card and other forms of personal data. I asked why all these tools are necessary. She replies “We want to make sure that you are the person you say you are. I responded (to the audience) “Could you imagine that with all the identity theft issues regarding financial scams and legal issues, that a person would actually fake his identity to get a colonoscopy?”
Fogel also added “How many men would want to get a colonoscopy just so they could get a good night’s sleep?”
In discussing new technology systems, Fogel reveals the pitfalls of a new invention, such as the GPS (Global Positioning System) of navigating travel in a car that has replaced maps.
“The new GPS has a woman’s voice instructing a man how to drive to a location. Can you imagine a man listening to a woman for directions? She will say ‘turn left, turn right’ and see that a man is not paying attention and finally saying “I want to end this journey with you. You’re a loser.”
Fogel is well-known in South Florida for his multiple one man shows, which included a six years plus run of “Til Death Do Us Part..You First” that was based on humorous tales of Fogel’s relationship with his girlfriend Cheryl.
“I am grateful that audiences loved my high energy in ‘Til Death…”and I also love another show I do, titled ‘The Spaghetti & Matzo Ball Show’ with singer Lou Villano that I will perform in March at Lake Worth Playhouse and many South Florida gated communities.”
Fogel’s skills at making people laugh come from his training in improv comedy, learning how to be funny on the spot, with spontaneous jokes as follows.
“The longest relationship I ever had in my life was with T-Mobile.”
“A tropical depression in South Florida takes place when my relatives come to visit me for a long time.”
“My girlfriend Cheryl likes to invest her money where she can see it, hanging up in her closet.”
“When I tried online dating and wrote in my profile that I am a comedian, I had no responses from women. So I changed my profile to a lie that I was a plastic surgeon and I had 300 quick responses online from women.”
Although not elaborating on specific incidents, Fogel states “I became a comedian to offset some of the negative aspects of coming from a dysfunctional family and humor was my outlet.”
Fogel started his career as an actor/comedian as an opening act for famed entertainers in Los Angeles and warmed up audiences in the 1970s with his comedy prior to the live tapings for the situation television comedy series “Married with Children.”.
Fogel returned to South Florida following the end of the “Married with Children” series to perform comedy for over 40 years, starring in shows such as “Kosher Comedy Tour” at Boca Black Box and other venues, including many synagogues and temples.
When not on stage, Fogel is also a copywriter and motivational speaker and uses his humor to engage his business clients.
“Beginning my seminars with jokes always makes my clients relaxed and more open to listen to what I have to say.”
Comedian Peter Fogel in “This Too Shall Pass…Like A Kidney Stone” from January 3-4 at Boca Black Box in Boca Raton.
When performing outside of South Florida, Fogel also stars as comedian Steve Solomon in the long-running play “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish and I’m in Therapy.”
“Steve (Solomon) has been so successful with his heartwarming anecdotes on growing up in a multicultural family that he hired me to portray him when he is not available to perform,” said Fogel.
Comedian Peter Fogel stars in his new one man show “This Too Shall Pass… Like A Kidney Stone” for three shows, Friday, January 3 at 7:30 p.m. and two shows on Saturday, January 4 at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. at Boca Black Box Center for the Arts (Box 2.0 Stage), 8221 Glades Road in Boca Raton. Tickets are $28. For tickets and more information, go to bocablackbox.com or call 561-483-9036.
