Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Your Invitation to the First-Ever Poetry Roast

Winter will warm up again on Tuesday, 13 February, when Mercury goes retrograde and the insults start flying at ...

THE ROAST OF SHARON MESMER & BRENDAN LORBER

Dress appropriately -- it's going to get uncomfortably hot, at least under the collar. We suggest a tuxedo or gown tastefully accessorized with a martini glass or maybe something simple that you won't mind getting mud slug on.

Be advised: NOTHING WILL BE OFF LIMITS

The secret shames & foibles of both roastees & the untold failings of our knavish panel of roasters will be exploited for cheap, unfair laughs. The horrible thing that just popped into your mind? That's what'll be dredged up & made fun of.


THE LIVINGROOM LOUNGE
23rd Street at 5th Ave
in South Slope Brooklyn
Tuesday 13 February 8PM

THE PANEL OF ROASTERS: Brandon Downing, Todd Colby, Carlos Reynoso, Kim Lyons, Edwin Torres, Matt Easton, Ian Bascetta, Aaron Kiely, Mitch Highfill, Rich O'Russa & others.

THE ROASTMASTERS: Jim Behlre & Tracey McTague

THE FORMAT: The panelists, cruelly introduced by the roastmasters, will defame, cut down & level gross injustice upon the two roastees. Then Mesmer & Lorber will respond.

YOUR ROLE: Eat, Drink, witness people being contrary.

FREE ADMISSION!
FREE FOOD!
FREE INSULTS!
SOMEWHAT CHEAP BOOZE!

Check out lungfull! for updates on the roaster roster & other details.

The roast comes from a long & ignominious tradition in America. Some say that The Roast, rather than jazz, is the one true American art form. If that helps you come to terms with this, that is, if you have to elevate a night of ribbing & ribaldry to High Art then, well, we'll remember this when you get roasted in 2008. But the rest of us are just here to enjoy the insults — for one night there'll be no backstabbing nor solipsistic blogging — it'll all be straightforward blows to the face & gut.

DIRECTIONS: LIVINGROOM LOUNGE. Take R or M to 25th Street, walk 2 blocks to 23rd then make a right. Uphill one block. 245 23rd St.

DEFINITION OF THE ROAST: According to wikipedia, a roast is an event in which an individual is subject to publicly bearing insults, praise, outlandish true and untrue stories, and heartwarming tributes. It is seen as an honor to be roasted, as the individual is surrounded by friends and well-wishers, who can receive some of the same treatment during the course of the evening. The party and presentation itself are both referred to as a roast. The host of the event is called the roastmaster. It is also known as a burn, as one is insulted various peers will call "Burn!" In short, it is both the opposite and the same as a "toast".

The Friars Club has held celebrity roasts in private since the 1920s. Only recently has the public been invited to see them. Dean Martin hosted a series of roasts on television during the 1960s and 1970s as part of The Dean Martin Show. The humor at these broadcast tributes was far tamer than the sometimes extremely vulgar and explicit language of the private, non-televised ones.

3 Comments:

Blogger rodney k said...

Sharon,

Please tell me this is going to be televised, Friars Club-style.

10:40 AM  
Blogger Todd Colby said...

That sounds fun! I'll be there!

10:50 AM  
Blogger Todd Colby said...

Hi Sharon:

I found my favorite (old) poem that you wrote!

Here it is:

Poem for Todd Colby

You are so nice and charming.
You have a nice attitude.
I'm really glad I know you.

-Sharon Mesmer, 1974

You were so sweet in the 70's. Kinda weird when you realize I was only 4 then. You were my babysitter, remember?

6:11 AM  

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