I gave up viola to be a stand-up comedian
OrchestrasThe Washington Post has a feature on Isabel Hagen, member of a musician family who gave up her viola career to tell jokes.
Not viola jokes, either.
“I mean, I was terrible at telling jokes,” Hagen says. “But just the act of it felt even more suited to me than music had…”
“With stand-up, I wanted to prove to myself that I could do this thing that I really loved. But people when they found out [I played viola] would be like, “Well, you should bring it onstage — that would be amazing.” And I was just like, “That is so hacky. What would I even do?” Then one day, I just had the idea of, “What if I just literally put them next to each other?” So I’m playing beautifully, I’m telling a joke I believe in, and the humor just lies in the juxtaposition. I’m not compromising the integrity of either one….“
Read on here.
What’s the difference between a viola and an onion?
I’ll bite..
What is the difference between a viola and an onion?
Viola and onion…One makes you laugh, and one makes you cry?. .I guess Phillip is saying that this woman’s career change is not as great as one might think?
Nobody cries when you cut up a viola.
An onion peels away in layers… a viola is layered in peals (of laughter)
So what’s new???
Jack Benny, a classically trained and truly talented violinist, constantly used his instrument to spice up his memorable comedy routines! But good luck, Izzy! A new Joan Rivers..
.but this time with “strings” attached!
I was thinking of Jack Benny before I read your comment. I had the pleasure of seeing him live several months before he died in 1974. He was in rare form that night, and the audience loved every minute of it!
Henry Youngwoman.
Anyone remember Henny Youngman…king of the one liners? Born in Whitechapel, raised in Brooklyn like Jack Benny he played a decent violin which he used as a prop in his routines. Died at 92,
And Hal do you remember the “Waukegan String Quartet” on one of the Jack Benny TV specials? Jack Benny and Henny Youngman on violin, and the great Morey Amsterdam on cello (which he sometimes played, quite nicely, on the Dick Van Dyke show). The fourth member of the quartet? Michael Rabin! The gimmick of the bit was that supposedly the quartet was rehearsing but Youngman and Amsterdam kept interrupting the rehearsal by jumping to their feet and telling a joke. An exasperated Benny finally convinces them to just keep playing with no more jokes — and suddenly Michael Rabin jumps to his feet … and tells a joke. If memory serves, Michael Rabin played the third movement of the Mendelssohn Concerto on that same show, which was not all that long before his death.
Jack Benny Show – season 1, episode 7 “Fiddler on the Loose” aired on November 11, 1967. I’d love to see this but couldn’t find the video online.
I wonder if Morey was playing on the infamous cello he bought on sale at the drug store!
I remember this and have been trying to find it for years. I’m at a farmer’s market in Hot Springs, AR and a string quartet is performing. I relayed this story but they are all too young to understand.
I had seen her stand-up and thought her very funny. Now we know why she plays so well.
Knowing her personally, I can attest that Isabel Hagen absolutely rules – as a player, person, and comedian.
I follow Hagen on Instagram and she is very, very funny. The viola world’s loss is comedy’s gain!
To paraphrase the great Henny Youngman: “Take my Viola, Please!”
She wouldn’t survive as a comic without the viola gimmick. Truly subpar comedy.
Oh, jokes are allowed now are they??!!!
I just, like, like the way she, like, kind of, like, talks. Probably much better, like, than she sounds, like, on the, like, viola.
Not bad, not bad….. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivQXA-xc9tM&t=2s