The newest show in town to blaze the trail for genre-bending independent comics is Ha Ha Hell. The monthly show boasts an array of comedy styles – from traditional stand-up to group sketches to awkward, irreverent, and hilarious character-driven monologues. Matt Peters founded the show, books the line-up, and chose the name based on a little-known Southern colloquialism (used when someone deems a joke unfunny).
Underground Comedy
Ha Ha Hell is different from any other L.A. comedy show. There is no special seating, no rows of chairs facing the stage. Comedians perform their routines from an arm length away if you’re at the bar, or from across the room if you’re with your friends in a back booth. It’s a place where comedians show up to watch as well as perform; they try out new material, experiment, and interact with the performers from off stage. Some of the routines use the bar itself, and it would be wise to expect a performer will jump across your feet or crawl beneath your table.
Location
The R Bar holds the distinct honor of being the only place in Los Angeles that captures the warm, cozy feel of a British pub (complete with dark wood paneling and a maze of three-walled booths). The venue is small, intimate, and clean. But be warned: finding your way in can be tricky. There is no sign on the street and while admission is free, no one is allowed through the front door without a password. The magic word changes monthly, but can usually be found on flyers for the various shows that perform there or on the R Bar Myspace page.
L.A. Comedy Hell
In Los Angeles, you can’t throw a rock without hitting an actor, an agent, or someone who doesn’t deserve it – and chances are one of those people would be a struggling Hollywood comic. They throng to L.A. in numbers almost equal to the acting world and face the same hurdles: overbooked venues, low pay, and the choice between artistic integrity and over-produced, statistics-driven generic comedy.
While Ha Ha Hell may not be for everyone, it’s a fresh change of pace from run of the mill comedy stylings of Laugh Factory and The Comedy Store.
More Information
- Show: Ha Ha Hell
- Price: Admission is free with password: “nobody puts baby in the corner”
- Date and Time: Wednesday, July 23rd at 9:30pm (shows monthly)
- Location: R Bar, 3331 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90005
