"Engaging, personal, hilarious, likeable, FUNNY... genuine first-class theater!"
—San Francisco Classical Voice
 
"Personal tragedy became twisted comedy, and past suffering dissolved into laughter. Such was the power of the tour."
—Gary Budzak, Columbus Dispatch
 
"...the jokes and laughs flowed forcefully"
—Doug MacCash, New Orleans Times-Picayune

November 17, 2007  Trio find laughter in stories of pain    By Gary Budzak, Columbus Dispatch        Personal tragedy became twisted comedy, and past suffering dissolved into laughter. Such was the power of the Comedy Addiction Tour, which stopped last night in the Capitol Theatre.        Three comedians — Mark Lundholm, Kurtis Matthews and Pat Dixon — who have had experiences with addiction and recovery, performed stand-up with a hopeful message to (an) appreciative crowd.        But this wasn't a typical comedy show, with the usual banter and audience interaction. In the Comedy Addiction Tour, each comic began his set under a spotlight, telling us about his lowest point in life. For example, for Lundholm, it was a failed suicide attempt.        Each comic had his tale of woe to tell, beginning with Dixon (subbing on this stop for Jesse Joyce). He told us about his ex-girlfriend, who attempted to murder him in Chattanooga. "The police took forever to respond. They thought it was out of their jurisdiction, since it happened at an International House of Pancakes."        Dixon also joked about alcohol ("What's my favorite beer? The fifth one."), his Higher Power ("Who I call PlayStation."), and lamented that huffing isn't romanticized in films like other drugs.        While Dixon had the most one-liners, Matthews may have been the most dramatic of the three. He said that as a child, he felt his mother loved his brother more than him. This led to various addictions, including ones to "a girl named Melanie and a guy named Jack Daniels. Melanie broke my heart, and Jack broke everything else."        Matthews, who has toured with Bill Hicks and Sam Kinison, then described a painful divorce and a drunken crash. After sneaking out of the hospital, he found his mother crying over him. He realized that she loved him "as much as, and sometimes more than, my brother."        Lundholm, who came up with the idea to do a Comedy Addiction Tour, talked about his continuing struggles.        "I suffer from a disease called first-thought wrong."        He said he still has addictions, only the substances are different: hand sanitizers, gadgets, golf, cigars and coffee.        "I'm waiting for the day they build a Starbucks inside another Starbucks."        Even if you've never been in recovery, it was easy to relate to these tales of the human condition, which Lundholm said were "the only story that really matters: redemption. Nothing in life is funny until the pain stops."        When the show ended, the three comics chatted and shook hands with everyone. This isn't an unusual event at comedy clubs, but what made this unique was that the people thanked the trio as if they had helped them, and in a sense, maybe they had.

August 3, 2007  Comedy Addiction Tour worth trip    By Doug MacCash, Times-Picayune New Orleans        Lead comedian Mark Lundholm and producer Todd Grove seemed dissatisfied after Tuesday's Comedy Addiction Tour performance at the Howlin' Wolf. It was the last of the work-in-progress previews before they take the irreverent four-man recovery-oriented show on a set of national dates.        Lundholm and Grove said they wanted the 90-minute show to hang together a bit better. They wanted each of the comedians' bits to be more reflective of the others. They wanted more personal anecdotes, more theater than standard standup. In music terms, it seems they're looking for a concept album not just a series of songs.        I say, relax. The work-in-progress is already pretty solid. The theme of a descent into substance abuse and the climb toward recovery holds things together as is.        In time the four comedians will come to play off one another's material more and more and the projected backgrounds and more deliberate staging that Lundholm and Grove have planned may lend the show the theatricality they crave.        The ensemble may achieve more harmony in time, but it's never going to be the comedy equivalent of a barber shop quartet -- nor should it be.        Truth is, no matter what, a comedy show is going to succeed or fail on the strength of its jokes. But by and large, the jokes and laughs flowed forcefully.        Here are a few of my favorites moments -- the printable ones.        Jesse Joyce said he's found that one of the best things about being sober, is being better able to determine if the person your kissing is a male or female, before such information becomes really crucial. Kurtis Matthews pointed out that addicts watch the television show "Intervention" as studiously as other people watch the Super Bowl.        Billy Robinson said that he'd read Jeffrey Dahmer had been in rehab. When, he mused, do you suppose Jeff D. knew his life had become unmanageable?        Lundholm discovered that he's able to be addicted to anything, even programmable television, which he believes was probably invented by a crack addict. Instead of relaxing, he obsessively changes channels, recording the things that he doesn't have time to watch, which doesn't really help because he doesn't have time to watch them.        The Comedy Addiction Tour is relatively blue, sometimes emotionally raw and relies on some knowledge of 12-step programs. There were a few sticky moments of solidarity between the comedians and audience -- many of whom seemed to personally relate to the recovery jokes, but the show isn't particularly preachy. And the fact that it was held in a bar lent the whole affair an acutely ironic atmosphere that snuffed out any possible sentimentality.        Lundholm said to expect the tour to return to New Orleans in March or April. My sober advice is, don't miss it.

"Thank you so very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come and perform ... here in the SF County jail. Being in recovery and being able to stay clean and sober has been difficult for me. By watching you, I know it can be done. Thank you for giving me back my hope to strive on."
—Christine Hermoso

"It's very encouraging, hilarious (you all are) talented... It's inspiring, motivational... Thank you."
—Eva C.

"This show is so great. I thought it was for comedy addicts, and it is. You don't have to be in recovery to enjoy all four performers. The material makes everyone laugh.
—Mark Anderson

"... gives me hope knowing that others with my problem can make it too."
—Eloina Lopez

"I didn't know I could laugh so hard sober. Thank you. I actually cried. I was so happy to be able to do that."
—Debra W.

"I believe that you are a gift to sobriety."
—Daniell Scheibb

"You've restored my hope in men. We all can recover and come out with a whole new life."
—Rebecca Bretherica

"This show is how you can make light of a very difficult situation for many, but entertain all of the people whether addicted to something or not. I am addicted to this show.
—J. Gales

"There is nothing like the feeling of genuine laughter."
—Heather Whittington

"Your show was excellent. I can't wait to see you on the Tube."
—Michelle Kidwell