By Karen Wolitzer
Kevin Meaney is absolutely hysterical; The Washington Post said it best when they wrote, "Imagine the love child of Jonathan Winters and Ethel Merman and you'll have an idea of Kevin Meaney's act." Bobcat Goldthwait, who has starred in numerous movies and comedy specials, always seems as if he's on the verge of a nervous breakdown. He's so much fun.And "Saturday Night Live" alum, Victoria Jackson, will surely bring a smile to your face. Who can forget her, standing on her head, reciting poetry...or her original ukulele songs? Those songs have actually paid off; she just put out her second children's album, "Ukulele Ditties For Itty Bitty Kiddies." Then there's Lewis Black, known to many as, "America's foremost commentator on everything." Exasperated and indignant, his satirical commentary can be seen every Wednesday night on "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart." "I'm not really that way," he says with a laugh. "If I was that exasperated, all the time, I'd be exhausted."Lewis, who is a playwright as well as a stand-up comedian, is looking forward to the show at Westbury Music Fair. "I've performed there before, but always as an opening act; I opened for Chicago, a couple of times. It's a great room...a really great room. And it's close to home (Manhattan)."He's also thrilled to be working with the other three incredibly talented comedians. "I've worked with all of them individually, but never as a group-so this will be wonderful. "Victoria and I worked together on a similar show, with lots of comedians. Kevin, I've known forever because he lives here in the city and we've worked clubs together, and I opened for Bobcat in Milwaukee." Picture the four of them-all on stage together. Kevin Meaney whining "That's not right," Victoria standing on her head reciting poetry, Bobcat...frantic and out of control, and Lewis ranting about all the little things that drive him crazy. What fun that would be! Unfortunately, they're going to be performing separately. "Can you imagine if we were all out there at once?" Black asks, seemingly unable to imagine it himself. "It would be chaos! You might as well have the stage spinning round and round. (The show will be performed without the stage moving.) "I think it's going to be great. We're doing two shows, one at Westbury Music Fair and the other in Richmond. I'm looking forward to watching them perform."Lewis counts Meaney, Jackson and Goldthwait among his favorite comedians, along with George Carlin, Richard Prior and Lenny Bruce--who he says really shaped him. It's easy to see the similarity between Black and Carlin. Like Carlin, Lewis talks about everyday things that exasperate him. "The last big bit I did was about Starbucks. In Houston they built two Starbucks right across the street from each other. Across the street from each other!" He repeats incredulously. "I saw it and then I walked into a club and started talking about it. I talk about anything stupid...and there's a never-ending supply of stupid in this country. "I also talk about the weather. I probably talk more about the weather than any other comic. It's ridiculous! Fall was more like spring, and we had a winter that lasted for four days..."Another topic on his mind is income tax. "If we have to pay...why do they make it impossible to read a tax form?" He asks. This issue frustrates him so much; it's the topic of his brand new half-hour comedy special. "I was lucky enough to get interviews with McCain and Dole and Larry King. And I spoke to an accountant...that was exhausting. I did a lot of man on the street stuff to see if people really did their own taxes. Some claimed they did, but I don't really believe them." In addition, he's just completed his third special for Comedy Central. "Stand-up keeps me sane," he says with a laugh. "I really thought I'd be a playwright, but writing plays pays about as much as jazz poetry. Plus you can't write for 20 hours a day, so I began doing stand-up, on the side, as a way to get my thoughts out without getting a cast together. "I started out running the West Bank Caf
