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Chonda
Pierce: Stayin' Alive…Laughing! March 31, 2008 Provident/Song/BMG, 2007 Reviewed
by Ann Ahrens Easy-going, comfortable, relaxed, oh, and funny. These are
all words that describe the newest DVD from Christian comedienne,
Chonda Pierce. Throughout the concert, listeners are invited to
sit back and comfortably laugh at everyday, believable spoofs on
everything from church denominations to Pierce's personal experiences
in a depression rehabilitation center. In her southern, nasal drawl,
coupled with hilarious facial expressions, she never seems anxious
to move to the next subject, but rather seamlessly glides from topic
to topic as if in a casual conversation with a friend. In Stayin' Alive…Laughing! and while on tour, Pierce
dances her way through topics from the empty nest to group therapy,
from two steppin' to twelve-stepping, and showing audiences
a side of Adam and Eve never seen before. Throughout the concert,
Pierce continues the “dance” thread, poking fun at her strict Nazarene
upbringing with particular reference to her mother, who was in attendance
at the concert and can be seen laughing hilariously in the audience.
But it is not only the Nazarenes who get roasted in this routine.
Chonda moves among the denominations, pointing out each one's
particular quirks and finding the humor in them all. She tells of
the time while speaking in an Episcopalian church when she needed
a drink of water and proceeded to pick up a beautiful gold goblet
near the altar. The priest quickly stopped her, saying, “No, no,
no! That's our baptismal!” From the “flickers” to the “dunkers,”
all denominations get their turn on the hot seat. Particularly humorous
was her elaboration on the “Progressive Primitive Baptist” denomination.
You just have to hear it to appreciate it! Beneath the Laughter As always, Chonda brings a tender message to her fans as well.
In this project, she shines a spotlight on how the church community
often doesn't acknowledge the debilitating illness of depression.
For many, depression is associated with shame and humiliation--even
a lack of faith. Chonda challenges the church to “get its head out
of the fans” and recognize that this is a common and treatable condition
and one in which the Church can indeed be a part of the healing
process. Elaborating on the scripture setting in the opening chapter of
Genesis in which Adam and Eve were in the Garden and “felt no shame,”
Chonda brings hope to this debilitating condition in a very human
way. Chonda finds humor in her experience, stating, “They say depression
is anger turned inward--that just made me mad! I didn't fall
down and scratch my knee and think, 'Ouch, now I'm depressed.'
It's like a tumor that starts slowly and grows. At first, one
doctor thought it was menopause . . . I fired him!” Emphasizing
the importance of group meetings while in therapy Chonda points
out that this is what church should be for people suffering from
this condition--a place to be set free by truth and acceptance in
place of the condemnation and guilt that so often accompany this
and other illnesses. In addition to all the hilarity, look for a surprise appearance from Russ Taff, former member of the Imperials, the great group from the 1970's through the 1990's that took Gospel music by storm. © 2008, Ann Ahrens ----------
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