This past Saturday, I headed into the heated hills of Burbank in search of a good deal for the family. To be specific, I was on a mission to try out some “family” comedy. Although I have no kiddos, lots of readers do and I know parents are always looking for fun and engaging things to do with their tribe.
I’d heard about Flappers Comedy Club’s Two Milk Minimum show and I decided to check it out. The show starts at 4:30 on a Saturday afternoon. At $20 for a family of four, you can’t beat that price for live comedy.
During my visit, I spoke with Barbara Holliday, co-owner of the club, who was dressed in line with the establishment’s name, like a flapper. In fact, the look of the entire staff, as well as the décor, harken back to the days of the roaring 20’s.
Barbara, a comedian herself, described how she went to great lengths to find comedians who would deliver a “clean” performance that parents could feel comfortable with. The kids who attend are very young. I’d estimate about twenty kids in attendance when I went. They were ranged in age from one to about ten or eleven. Kids two and under get in free, by the way – and there were a couple of those, one of whom was amazingly responsive to the comedian.
Driving over the hill I couldn’t help but wonder if this was gonna be very funny for me and the other adults. I’d never really thought about it, but generally speaking, we adults usually enjoy some pretty raucous humor, right? I know I do. I’ve got nothing against swear words. I’m just sayin.’ The prospect of “family” humor made me realize how much of it goes on with comedy and how much of it we adults find very very funny.
Saturday’s show featured two comics. Host, Michael Rayner is hilarious. He’s been on The Letterman Show, numerous Nickelodeon shows and Sesame Street. He has his own show, Bananas, in syndication nationwide. I’ve never seen any of them; but, he’s a laugh riot at Flappers and the kids love him.
Rayner got the kids involved. Apart from the few “clean” adult jokes he threw in, it was hilarious to watch the interactions with the kids and the crazy things they say. I could tell the parents thought so too.
Comedian and illusionist Joseph Tran was up next and he kept the interactive aspect of the show going. He even led them through some magic tricks, which was pretty cute. They were amazed at what they could do. The funny part was also the way the kids couldn’t be fooled. They were real hip to what was obviously not magic and that was part of the fun; and they made no bones about saying what they thought.
The kids’ food menu is a good deal. $5 for burgers and fries, pizzas, mac and cheese, chicken nuggets or salads. Kids’ drinks range from $2 for boxed juice to $6 for sparkling apple juice or a bottle of Yoo Hoo. The most expensive is Red Bull, which is $8 and which I would never buy for my kid anyway; but, there you go. I won’t even drink Red Bull as an adult, and especially with vodka the way lots of adults drink it these days. Let’s hope no one goes and gets an $8 Red Bull with some vodka at the Two Milk Minimum show and has a heart attack right in front of the kids. That wouldn’t be very funny.
The food prices for adults are okay – not a deal but not outrageous. My sliders were $10. They did have a great grilled taste and were made just the way I wanted them --- with no pink. There are lots of menu options, including sandwiches, salads, pastas, and yes, even steak or grilled salmon.
A full bar is available. I had beers. Draft beers are $5 a pint, which is a pretty good deal. Everyone observes the two “milk” minimum.
FYI, Flappers also has a whole bunch of other great deals for students, seniors, birthday folks, and the unemployed. Check out their website for more info on those.
As far as Two Milk Minimum goes, the real deal is for the kids. It’s the bee’s knees, daddy-o.
NEED TO KNOW:
Flappers Comedy Club
102 E. Magnolia Blvd. Burbank, CA 91502
Phone: 818-845-9721
Open Tuesday through Sunday, 5 pm to 2 am
Two Milk Minimum runs Saturdays at 4:30pm
Free parking at Sears’ parking lot
Web: www.flapperscomedy.com
(Jennifer Caldwell is a an actress and an active member of SAG-AFTRA, serving on several committees. She is a published author of short stories and news articles and is a featured contributor to CityWatch. Her column at www.RecessionCafe.wordpress.com is dishing up good deals, recipes and food for thought. Jennifer can be reached at [email protected]. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jennifercald - Twitter: @CheckingTheGate)
Photo: Comedian entertaining some tough customers during Two Milk Minimum at Flappers.
CityWatch
Vol 10 Issue 67
Pub: Aug 21, 2012
