Christopher Titus Makes Us Laugh at Divorce
Comedian Shares His Experiences On "Love Is Evol" CD
May 22, 2009
After building a production company, creating the critically-acclaimed television series that bears his name, and recording two successful comedy albums -- Norman Rockwell Is Bleeding and The 5th Annual End of the World Tour -- Christopher Titus says that he asked God for some new material. Perhaps the lesson in his newest work, then, is to be careful what we ask for -- especially in our petitions to the Almighty.
God, Titus says, gave him a struggling marriage to an unstable woman and a gut-wrenching divorce that tested his faith. This might not seem like the basis of exceptional comedy, but Titus recounts his experiences with a combination of pathos and comic timing that not only engages the audience, but also leaves listeners in stitches. Love Is Evol is one of the funniest comedy albums in recent memory and should be a strong candidate for Grammy consideration.
Divorce as Fuel for Comedy
Titus pulls no punches in detailing his marital problems, presenting himself as a victim of domestic violence, verbal abuse, sexual infidelity, and accusations of infidelity and abuse. Even when he re-enters the dating scene and begins a new romantic relationship, the comedian does not hold back. He discloses the nagging insecurities of a man in love, making us laugh all the while.
The beauty in Titus's comedy comes from the frankness with which he makes himself vulnerable to the audience. He presents the audience with his side of the divorce story, but not without pointing out his own shortcomings: his inability (or, perhaps, unwillingness) to see the destructive patterns in his marriage, his ignorance of his wife's infidelity, and the naivete with which he entered the marriage. Love Is Evol will resonate with audiences because it is full of the kinds of fears and anxieties that we all possess but seldom discuss.
Professor Arrington's Grade
To pull a sample of noteworthy quotations from the newest Christopher Titus album would be a futile venture. Granted, the disc has more than ts share of humorous one-liners, to be sure. However, taking said comments out of context diminishes their impact, removing from them the context of the comedian's story, told with brutal, self-effacing honesty. Love Is Evol seamlessly extends the unorthodox story that is the life of Christopher Titus into new directions. Instead of seeing him solely as the child of a dysfunctional family, long-time Titus fans will enjoy seeing him as a grown-up tackling adult problems with tenacity and wit.
For sharing his struggles (and eventual triumphs) with us without holding back, Titus receives a well-earned A.
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