Equip your thickest skin, and get your cringing pants ready, Boston. Anthony Jeselnik is coming back to town.
With his first new hour of material since 2015’s critically-acclaimed Thoughts and Prayers, the Pittsburgh native brings his Funny Games World Tour to The Wilbur Theatre stage for two shows on Thursday night (April 26). Although the early show (7:30 p.m.) is sold out, there’s still a late-night chance to catch the modern king of cringe once again bring the offensive during the 10 p.m. show; it’s sure to be a night of equal parts awkward silence and gut-busting laughs, with the two almost guaranteed to stew together at various points throughout the evening.
While the Comedy Central roast standout has remained fairly tight-lipped about his new material since he announced the dates back in January, an interview with Asbury Park Press earlier this year brings to light the fact that, while he’s very skilled — arguably the best — at his dark and observational niche in the comedy scene, the Tulane alum doesn’t exactly think that what he is saying on stage is true, and neither should you.
“I get people who tell me ‘Anthony, I love your comedy. You’re saying what we’re all thinking.’ No I’m not. You should not be thinking these things, but the idea of thinking them makes me laugh,” Jeselnik tells the APP. “It’s a parody of the biggest jerk in the world, whereas I’m kind of a nerd. I study comedy and read a lot. I’m certainly not the person you see on stage.”
Much like a certain billionaire-turned-President that he roasted (nay, eviscerated), his Twitter fingers have gotten him into a significant amount of hot water over the years. The city of Boston, as a collective, can even attest to what some might consider “ill-timed” musings of his outspoken stage persona when in 2013 he made light of the Boston Marathon bombings. But given the fact that there is a sold out show on a Thursday night on Tremont Street, maybe there’s room for reconciliation.
ANTHONY JESELNIK: FUNNY GAMES :: Thursday, April 26 at The Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St. in Boston, MA :: 7:30 p.m. (sold out) and 10 p.m., $32 :: Advance tickets :: Wilbur Event page :: Featured image via Facebook