Health & Fitness
"Class Clowns" back in school at Malden High
Seven comedians who graduated Malden High return to school for a Comedy Show at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10.
Malden High ‘Class Clowns’ return to school
Find out what's happening in Maldenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
By David D. Haskell
Find out what's happening in Maldenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The
“Class Clowns” are returning to Malden
High School.
Seven
comedians who graduated MHS and now follow other alums who have gone on before
to help make the world laugh will perform in a “Comedy Show” concert at Malden
High’s Jenkins Auditorium on Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m.
“I
can’t wait to get back on the Jenkins stage, said Robert “Bob” Gautreau, Class
of 1980, one of the comics lined up for the show by another stand-up guy Dave
Connolly, Class of 2012 (he’ll likely explain that in his routine).
Connolly
said also on the card are Joey “Voices” Noone, Class of ‘90, Dave Russo, Class
of ‘88, Paul Gilligan, Class of ‘80, Anthony Scibelli, Class of ’05, and David
Twohig, Class of ’75.
Connolly
said he went to the mayor’s office with the idea to organize the comedy show,
“To do something for the students,” and found the support he sought.
“I
was passionate about bringing the comics together for the school,” Connolly
said. As for his own school days, Connolly admitted with a sly grin he was “a
goof off in school.”
The
show costs $25 per person with a portion of the funds going to FAME, the
Foundation for the Advancement of Malden Education, Inc.
“It’s
a really good idea,” Joey “Voices” said, adding he was “glad to do anything for
Malden.”
“I’m
looking forward to it,” said Scibelli, the youngest in the group. He said he
was pretty quiet in school but “loved to get on the stage.”
Twohig,
the oldest of the comics, said he too was a “quiet kid” in school and didn’t
get into standup comedy until three years ago after his daughter turned to him
and said, “Dad, you really crack yourself up. You should go on stage.”
Several
of the comics appeared recently on a Malden Access Television show “Live on
Tape,” hosted by MATV executive director Ron Cox, a bit of a cut-up himself.
Cox,
Class of ’66, asked the comics what it was about Malden that produced such a collection of funny
men.
“It
must have been the teachers,” offered Scibelli.
“We
drank that same water,” Joey suggested.
Whether
or not Malden water contains some comical
ingredient, these laugh-makers are walking in the footsteps of others who left Malden to bring laughter
to the people, such as Edna May Oliver, Jack Albertson and Wally Brown.
Oliver
was born in Malden
in 1883, but left school at the age of 14 to pursue a career in the theater. On
Broadway and later in movies – her first was in 1923 -- Edna May’s comedic
talents lent a droll warmth to her “horse-faced” characters.
Jack
Albertson, born in Malden
in 1907, also left high school early to seek his place in show business. A
comedian and character actor, Albertson’s most famous movie role perhaps was in
“The Poseidon Adventure.” On television, he gained even more fame on the 1970s
sitcom series “Chico and the Man.”
Wally
Brown, born in Malden
in 1904, also began his career in vaudeville. In the 1940s he teamed up with
Alan Carney and made a number of movie comedies, and later was a regular on
several radio and television shows.
Search
Google to find more details about the careers of these Malden entertainers.
Tickets
for the “Class Clowns” show can be obtained at City Hall mayor’s office, Malden
Access TV, and the Fizz ‘Ed restaurant, all on Pleasant Street, and the Dockside Restaurant
on Centre Street, Malden.
For
more information, find Dave Connolly on Facebook.
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