Local funnymen Charlie Hall and Frank O’Donnell are teaming up to produce a night of classic stand-up comedy featuring a gaggle of comedians who started their careers at a modest eatery/comedy club called Periwinkles located in the Providence Arcade.
The “Periwinkles Reunion Show” will take place on Friday night, April 24 at the Pub-on-Park (part of the Legion Bowl Complex) in Cranston. Proceeds from the shows will benefit the Station Fire Memorial Foundation and the Keri Anne O’Donnell Memorial Fund.
In the early 1980s, Periwinkles would transform nightly into the state’s first full-time comedy venue. It was Hall and O’Donnell who convinced a skeptical owner, ex-nightclub mogul Mike Kent, that stand-up comedy was making a comeback. Kent gave them one night to prove themselves, and the two former Classical schoolmates packed the place – leading eventually to weekend shows, later to shows featuring top Boston and New York acts, and then Wednesdays and Sundays when R-rated hypnotist Frank Santos ruled the stage. Sadly, Santos passed away in 2009.
But it was the mid-week “open mic” nights, when comics would try out new material, that drew hundreds of area wannabes into Periwinkles hoping to one day see themselves on Carson, Letterman, or any other of the national comedy TV shows. And for a few R.I.-based comedians, that dream came true.
Tom Cotter appeared on Jay Leno, and came in second at “America’s Got Talent” a few years ago. Paul Mecurio won an Emmy and a Peabody Award for his writing on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” Al Ducharme has been in several films and hosted his own HGTV series. Charlie Hall appeared on “Star Search,” “The Joan Rivers Show,” and created the Ocean State Follies. Frank O’Donnell wrote jokes for Jay Leno and Bob Hope, and taught comedy for years. Poppy Champlin went on to the famed Chicago Second City Improv School, taped her own Showtime comedy special, and appeared on “The Joan Rivers Show.” Dave Kane created a long running, one-man show called “Misgivings.” Mary Ellen Rinaldi became a motivational speaker with Loretta Laroche’s company. Rockin’ Joe Hebert joined the top rated morning radio show at WPRO-FM. Ace Aceto starred in an independent film called “Boxman” and is the official roastmaster for WPRO-AM. John Perotta became the king of comedy dinner theater and is the most booked comic in the state. John Loughlin went on to become a state representative and radio talk show host. Joe Rogan moved to Los Angeles, was in the cast of “News Radio,” and hosted “Fear Factor.” And those are just some of the success stories that took root from their connections to Periwinkles. (Note: Not all of these comics will be performing in the reunion show.)
Periwinkles has also had many not-so-local comics who later went on to become major stars grace their stage, such as Dennis Leary, Jon Stewart, Dave Chapelle, Steven Wright, Rob Schneider, Lenny Clarke and Janine Garafalo, whose one inebriated appearance there as a Providence College student during a Showtime comedy contest led to the career she has today.
Local comics scheduled to appear for the reunion show are John Perotta, Rockin’ Joe Hebert, Ace Aceto, Eddy Galvin, Rick Beretta, Coleen Galvin and Dave Kane, with many more being added. Hall and O’Donnell will be emceeing and appearing on both shows.
The Periwinkles Reunion Show will be held Friday April 24 at 8 p.m. and 10:30 pm. at Pub-on-Park, located 661 Park Ave. in Cranston. Tickets are $20 in advance ($25 at the door) and available at the Pub-on-Park or online through www.periwinklesreunion.com.
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