Comedian Jimmy Tingle Brings ‘Humor And Hope’ To Chatham

CHATHAM – Fresh off a five-week Off Broadway run, comedian Jimmy Tingle will bring his topical humor and observation to St. Christopher’s Church this Saturday, July 27.

Tingle’s “Humor and Hope for Humanity” show not only includes the political and observational humor that he’s known for, but also delves into his life and background in comedy.

“It’s basically an autobiographical show about starting off in comedy, the early days of street performing, getting some breaks, getting on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, going back to school and some personal struggles with recovery,” he said in a telephone interview last week.

The show is a benefit for the Chatham Ecumenical Council, which works to prevent homelessness and help those facing the loss of housing. With a home in Wellfleet, Tingle knows all about the issues facing Cape Codders, including the housing crisis.

“Many people know someone who was homeless once,” he said. “I know a lot of people like that, who are doing better in their lives now. That always just keeps me hopeful.”

So does the fact that there are groups like the Chatham Ecumenical Council, which to him signals that there are “good people in this world.”

“People are very despondent,” he said of the current atmosphere in the country. “I’m just trying to give people hope and not give up, because we’ve been through difficult times before and we’ll get through these difficult times.”

Tingle came up through Boston’s 1980s comedy scene alongside Lenny Clarke and Denis Leary. He did humorous commentary on 60 Minutes and MSNBC and appeared on late-night talk shows and several documentaries. He returned to school and earned a master’s degree from the Harvard Kennedy School in 2010, giving the university’s commencement address that year.

He’s also acted in films, including “Boondock Saints” and “Next Stop Wonderland.” Two years ago he appeared in a short film shot in Chatham, “Clam Shack Blues,” alongside Clarke.

“That was great fun,” he said. “It was great to reconnect with him and help out a new filmmaker.”

He’s currently working on the release of a new film, “Jimmy Tingle: Why Would A Comedian Run For Office?” which grew out of his 2018 run for Massachusetts lieutenant governor (he came in second in a two-person race, he notes). The film was screened at the Woods Hole Film Festival and recently shown at the Wellfleet Preservation Hall.

“We’ll be releasing it soon,” he said. “I’m just trying to figure out where, when and how.”

His recent one-person show at the Soho Playhouse in New York was called “a testament to the power of humor as a tool for change” by allaboutsolo.com, and the New York Times called his previous show “Jimmy Tingle’s Uncommon Sense” “so cheerfully intelligent that he makes his audience optimistic in the face of appalling reality.” The New York run was a way to see if his latest material works outside of his Boston-area homebase.

“And it did, it worked really well,” he said.

Tingle says he offers a “hopeful approach” to social satire. With the news coming fast and furious, it can be difficult to adapt.

“It makes it more challenging for the show not to go five hours,” he said.

DETAILS:

Jimmy Tingle: Humor and Hope For Humanity

At St. Christopher’s Church, Main Street, Chatham

Saturday, July 27, 7 p.m.

Information and reservations: www.preventingcapehomelessness.org