Share

My Big Fat

While chatter over the politics of obesity differs from one pundit to the next-overweight people are either funny or sad; they should either be chastised or exonerated of blame for their condition-Jim Santangeli says all of these things at once. And you believe him. Because he's fat-super fat. "I am three Adrien Brodys," he says at the top of My Big Fat, "yet only one-third of a 1976 Alfa Romeo." The 30-minute vignette is a frank and very funny analysis of what it takes to be huge. First of all it requires a lot of work. Backed by a three-person Greek chorus of sorts, Santangeli explores the checklist of techniques necessary for the corpulent life, including brainwashing friends into thinking you're athletic and blaming your parents. Audience members vacillate between empathizing with Santangeli (we've all feasted on junk food in the wee hours of the morning in front of the television: "What's on? Doesn't matter. You're not going to watch anyway," he says) and being disgusted by his hypocrisy (he rebuffs the heavyset Sepulveda during an onstage date). Regardless, the comedian succeeds in making his plump story compelling without taking himself, the show-or his weight, for that matter-too seriously. In fact, if there's any message at all, it's that a husky person's baggage is weighed down as much by self-delusion as it is by Doritos.

SEE IT @ UCBT!
MY BIG FAT
Saturday, June 23 & 30
7:30pm