BOCA RATON – The drive from Miami to Boca Raton only takes about an hour, but to Freddy Stebbins the audiences can feel like an entire continent away.
Stebbins, a Miami-based performer, understands better than most that jokes which land every time in Miami-Dade County can be hit-or-miss in Palm Beach County.
“A lot of what I do is, I do something and I know they’re laughing and then I improv,” Stebbins said. “Anything I do Miami-related, I can go for 40 minutes like that. Here, I have to tailor it a little bit, That’s one of my struggles as a comedian because I am so Miami based. It’s a good challenge for me.”
Stebbins rose to the challenge during Wednesday’s performance at the Dubliner, located in ritzy Mizner Park.
He headlined the first of what promoter Gina Savage expects to be regular shows at the Irish bar,
“What a great place,” Stebbins said. “This was great. Good energy here. And man, these comics were good.”
Stebbins moved easily between his Miami-centric routine and current events, which included a Donald Trump impersonation.
The Old Cuban Man character – clearly a Miami-centric piece – resonated with the Boca Raton crowd.
“Even if you’re not Cuban you can relate to that stubborn old man that’s from a different genre,” Stebbins said.
APPLAUSE BREAK-DOWN
VENUE: Dubliner, Boca Raton (Feb. 3, 2021)
LlNEUP
Zach McGovern (Host)
Brittany Brave
Matt Ross
Nadeem Awad (Co-feature)
Johnny Azari (Co-feature)
Josh Rosen (Co-feature)
Flip Schultz (Special Guest)
Freddy Stebbins (Headliner)
SHOW HIGHLIGHT
Stebbins’ Trump impersonation drew laughs, but even he admitted to loving the Trump bit performed by Josh Rosen minutes earlier. Rosen began his set with impersonations of Bernie Sanders, Trump and Joe Biden, killing with all three. “I really liked Josh Rosen and those impersonations,” Stebbins said.
BE OUR GUEST
Flip Schultz surprised with a guest spot, crushing with his routines about hot girls at Subway and the unacceptability of being a straight flamboyant male. …Johnny Azari drew plenty of material from the top of his head – his hair actually. His observations about the spread of Persian culture landed in Boca Raton. …It’s not surprising that Nadeem Awad’s jokes about Lake Worth found an audience in Boca Raton. It was good to see that the Arab/Jewish comparisons that could have been dicey elicit laughter, too. …Matt Ross had a little fun with the mustache he’s still attempting to grow, claiming it’s for a television role that would make for an interesting character. His iguana bit continues to find its mark. …Brittany Brave overcame a loud early audience and less-than-optimal lighting to wind her way through the opening set. …Fresh of his headlining appearance at Delray Beach’s Tin Roof, Zach McGovern fit superbly as the night’s host. “I love hosting,” McGovern said. “I just love comedy.”
WORKING THE ROOM
When Stebbin’s Walter Mercado character appears, the crowd always becomes part of the show. Wednesday proved no different. As Mercado, Stebbins wandered through the crowd telling off-beat fortunes based upon contrived horoscopes. Everyone Mercado interacted with had a laugh.
COMICS’ TABLE
Chad Ridgely, Danny “The Jew” Fineman, Richie Leis and David Sadman of Sadman Comedy Productions all attended the show as fans.
ONE LINER
“I thought it was fun. Good show. Hopefully it keeps going.” – Flip Schultz
