Short Stop

Comedian Martin Short, who steps into the spotlight tonight, makes most of his income from movie and television work. But if Shakespeare’s line about all the world being a stage were true, he’d be thrilled.

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More About

• Martin Short
• Jiminy Glick
• Ed Grimley

“I like doing all three mediums, but I think my favorite has always been stage,” Short says — and one reason for his fondness is the control he has over his work. As he points out, “You can have a very successful day in a film shoot — do nine great takes of a great scene. But if the director chooses the wrong one, that’s what it is, and it has nothing to do with you. It’s a decision that’s made two months from that moment. And on stage, you can alter it and change it and adjust it to the energy of the room.”

Short’s understanding of this dynamic plays into the structure of his current stage show. He’s designed a seamless presentation that includes appearances by many of the characters he’s created, from prancing oddball Ed Grimley to rotund host Jiminy Glick. Nevertheless, he’s ready to change directions at a moment’s notice — especially if something goes wrong.

“It’s funny,” he notes. “What audiences remember the most if you’re doing a run of a show is when the set fell down or when the actor breaks up.”

The Martin Short experience begins at 8 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Place; tickets are $44 to $64. Learn more at 303-595-3637 or www.comedyworks.com — and read a Q&A with Short at blogs.westword.com/latestword.
Sat., Sept. 20, 2008