It’s another Clinton
— with her chirpy solicitation to “chat” — that’s taken over the news recently, but comedienne Kate Clinton’s eponymous
stand-up show displays her own hard-edged contours, albeit in typically
self-effacing fashion. Taking material from her 2005 one-woman show “Talking a
Blue Streak,”
own uproarious opinion on feminism and lesbianism, and how they in turn feed
her points-of-view on all of the burning issues of the day.
Progressive as well as The Advocate,
Clinton has performed for more than 25 years, at venues as diverse as comedy
festivals, colleges and universities, gala fundraising events, off-Broadway
playhouses and gay-themed cruise ships and resorts. She touts herself on her laudable
web site as a “faith-based, tax-paying, America-loving political humorist and
family entertainer,” so one knows right off the bat that they needn’t expect
Andrew Dice Clay-style (or Linda Lampanelli-type, for that matter) screeds for
shock’s sake.
self-described “Bush fatigue” runs deep, and feeds most of her best bits, but
she sometimes delves a smidgen too deeply into wonkish policy tangents instead
of merely jabbing at the hypocrisy of an administration whose Vice President’s
openly lesbian daughter is set to adopt a baby with her partner pushing so
transparently for a constitutional ban on gay marriage. When she gets wound up,
the sputtering, good-natured exasperation of Roseanne Roseannadana. It’s her
writing experience, however, that most deftly serves her, allowing for seamless
transitions between bits about gay love and dating, reality television,
political activism, interior decorating and eco-friendly legislation.
1.33:1 full screen, Kate Clinton
comes with an English language Dolby digital stereo 2.0 audio track, and runs
just under an hour-and-a-half. The picture is crisp and clear, and Kerry
Asmussen’s direction doesn’t overdo the fawning crowd shots, as with many
concert films. There are a few other preview trailers for films and series from
distributors Here! Films and Genius Products, but unfortunately no supplemental bonus
features. B- (Movie) C- (Disc)