Published: October 19, 2007 12:54 pm            

THE ISLE FILE: Puns intended for Island comic

When Islander Dennis Upton e-mailed about gigs with the improvisational troupe Comedy Sportz, Isle File profiled him as 20 or 30-something. Not so. Dennis, interrupted by Isle File as he did his bit to reforest the planet Wednesday morn, is a former mainland school teacher who retired not once, but twice.

“You’re only young once,” he says, “But you can be immature your entire life.”

(We put it differently: Maturity is like the mumps. The later in life that you catch it, the more it hurts.)

Upton’s specialty is punning. There’s a science-fiction short story with the premise that punning is the only form of comedy not controlled by aliens, which is why people are programmed to groan when they hear one. “My last name is an anagram for ‘to pun,’” Upton notes. (For the record, his first name is an anagram for “sinned.”)

Comedy Sportz is a national franchise with improvisational games in the style of the “Whose Line Is It, Anyway” TV show except that the points really do count. The troupe staged a special for the 914th Air Reservists this month and performs at North Tonawanda’s Riviera Theater Sunday nights at 7.

“It’s a real clean show,” Upton insists. “You can bring your grandmother or your little boy.” He says they avoid the stand-up staple of ridiculing the audience: “The audience mostly ridicules us.”

The price is a freewill donation. That alone ought to bring a smile.

• ‘FELIX’ STRIKES BACK: The in-box holds a note from former Islander Walt Hastrich, whose performance opposite Bob Beach in “The Odd Couple” at Huth Road School in the late ‘70s will always be our standard for fussy Felix Ungar.

Walt is living now in Hudson, Fla., on the Gulf Coast, where, he says, none of the community troupes are interested in his talents, “not even as a set painter,” as he puts it.

That’s beyond comprehension. Walt was not only a premiere performer and director, he was almost absent ego.

He’d love to exchange lines with cronies at 7101 Fairland, Hudson, FL 34667, by phone at 727-860-4733 or at whastrich@tampabay.rr.com.

• CHILI CHAMPS: Laura Sexton and Nancy Secic, the Chili Sisters, report that Tony Majewicz’s concoction won the Indigestion Bowl – uh, chili cookoff –- last weekend at the VFW. Ruthie McDonald stirred up second prize and Wendy Truesdale showed, as they say at the track. Irene Wagner earned honorable mention. As a fund-raiser, “We did fantastic,” said Laura.

• CALL OF THE WILD: Two beagles named Glory and Blaise have gone hunting on their own in the area near the highway department, 1820 Whitehaven Rd. The owners ask that anyone “hearing any unusual howling” call 807-8598 or 807-8599.

Of course the howling could also be the after-effects of Tony’s chili. Isle File understands the judges have been treated and released.

Isle File idea? Write Box 1186, Grand Island, NY 14072 or e-mail pollyndoug@hotmail.com.

        

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