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Brick Wall Comedy
Brick Wall Comedy
Cover image credit: Thumbnail: YouTube · Four by Three

People Pleaser

Chase O'Donnell

YouTube · 2023 · 35 min

A physical half-hour of millennial anxieties and theater-kid energy.

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Chase O’Donnell relies on a deer-in-the-headlights theatricality, turning her inability to handle confrontation into an on-stage asset. Rather than leaning into a detached stance, she harnesses an endearing nervousness, treating the microphone like a confessional where she explains staying in a superficial sorority simply because she could not face the awkwardness of quitting. Her performance is surprisingly physical, shifting from a meek admission about being a Pisces to a full tap-dance time step executed in chunky boots. Filmed at The Bourbon Room in Los Angeles and released on YouTube in early 2023, the 35-minute set was named one of the year’s best YouTube comedy specials by the New York Times. At the time, O’Donnell was building momentum as a touring opener for Christina P. and a frequent guest on comedy podcasts. The material details her high school innocence, where every adult innuendo went completely over her head, alongside her attempts to manifest a better life through “The Secret.” When she leans into larger-than-life physical bits, like imitating Samantha Jones’s signature shimmy, her musical theater training keeps the timing tight and purposeful.

The set list

4 bits

  1. Doing a Samantha Jones shimmy shake and a dance time step

    Executing big, physical comedy beats in chunky boots to break tension

  2. Crying a lot and being a Pisces

    Delivered timidly as an understated throwaway punchline before engaging with Pisces in the audience

  3. Avoiding confrontation and seeking vengeance through vigorous journaling

    Illustrating how she lives up to the people-pleaser moniker by enduring a superficial sorority and taking out anger quietly on the page

  4. Crowd work with audience members

    Lightly teasing a man about his name and asking Pisces for their birthdays to subvert assumptions

How it plays

Tone
Self-deprecating, silly, endearing, and lighthearted
On stage
Endearing nervousness, deer-in-the-headlights demeanor mixed with silliness, larger-than-life physical energy, and theatrical flair
Pace
Frenetic millennial energy with peaks and troughs; builds tension using nervous pacing interspersed with big physical movements
About
people pleasing, being a millennial, innocent upbringing and missing innuendos, manifestation, avoiding confrontation, sorority life

What the critics said

Praised as solidly funny, infectiously likable, and effective in showcasing her persona, though reviewers noted it could have been bolder and proved she deserves a full hour

In the room: Live audience at The Bourbon Room reacting to interactive crowd work and theatrical physical comedy

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: standupd.com, pastemagazine.com, weownthelaughs.com, themoviedb.org, summitcomedy.com, chaseeo.wixsite.com.

Backstory

Millennial generational identity and anxieties, reflecting her background as a theater major, grown-up theater kid, Disney Channel fan, and self-described people pleaser with an innocent upbringing

Details

Released
Taped
The Bourbon Room, Los Angeles
Runtime
35 min
Where
YouTube
Director
Chase Crawford
Honors
Named one of the best Youtube specials of 2023 by the New York Times
Topics

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