Brian Copeland enters a compelling Period
EXTENDED AGAIN THROUGH DEC. 8Comedian, author and TV personality Brian Copeland wrote and starred in one of San Francisco's longest-running solo shows of all time. He's back with a new show, The Waiting Period, which takes his art in a powerful new direction. Photo by Joan Marcus
Lost in hopelessness, Copeland visits a gun dealership, where, in spite of his bleak state of mind, he finds humor in the whole enterprise. He sees posters on the wall of bikini-clad ladies holding firearms trying hard to look sexy and lethal. "I've been married twice," he says. "They were either lethal or sexy. Never both." Or in that moment when he's holding the revolver, he senses it's a "little black steel penis extender...not everyone can afford a Corvette."With pathos and heart, Copeland conveys to his audience the helplessness of depression and the disease of it. At one point, he's standing outside of himself, the healthy Brian attempting to "slap the shit" out of depressed Brian. But the healthy self has to concede that, "He can't hear us. He's sick." The power and emotion Copeland and Ford have invested in this story elevate it above your average night out at the theater.This is an entertaining, intriguing show to be sure. But you know you're seeing something important as Copeland slowly begins re-connecting to life, most notably when he goes to speak at a local high school where he recognizes an overachieving but depressed teenager. The Waiting Period is ultimately as life-affirming a show as you could hope to see. There's an especially nice touch toward the end as Copeland, coming into the light and feeling hope trickle in, is surrounded by the sound of happiness, and it sounds like a trumpet playing "On the Sunny Side of the Street."FOR MORE INFORMATIONBrian Copeland's The Waiting Period continues an extended run through Dec. 8 at The Marsh, 1062 Valencia St., San Francisco. Tickets are $15-$35 on a sliding scale. Call 415-282-3055 or visit www.themarsh.org.