Actor and comedian Kevin Farley made his way back to Chicago for smiles and laughs with stand-up performances at the Comedy Plex Comedy Club in Oak Park last weekend.
Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Farley got his start in comedy doing improv shows at The Second City. Today, he splits his time between New York and Florida when he is not traveling for work. To Farley, being back in Chicago reminds him of the start of his career when he was just getting started and learning the ropes.
“We used to do these improv shows that are in people’s basements, and we’d be in this van, going across the country to colleges,” Farley said. “So, we didn’t make a lot of money, but it was a lot of fun and it’s a time in my life where comedy was done primarily for fun and to learn.”
Today, Farley mainly does standup comedy, like his shows at the Comedy Plex. For Farley, his approach to standup comedy varies greatly from the start of his career in improv.
“Stand up is different because it’s a lot more crafting of jokes, and making jokes work and doing them over until you get them perfect,” Farley said. “They can be a little play on words or the way you say it, so it’s a lot more refined.”
Audience members can expect a set centered around observations from the comedian’s busy life. Farley said his set runs the gamut – ranging from his relationship with his wife, his battle with food, his observations on politics, and his life with seven dogs. His favorite part of his set is when he has the chance to talk about his relationship with his wife.
“She’s quirky, and we have a very wild relationship,” Farley said.
Farley, who has starred in shows like “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” is in the middle of filming a movie in Texas. Titled “Pickleball,” the film is set for release in 2025. He is also inching toward the release of his book “Growing Up Farley,” a comic book centered around his rowdy childhood as the brother of the late comedian Chris Farley.
Amid the busyness of filming a movie and releasing a book, Farley plans to spend the rest of the year touring the United States doing standup. After his stop here, Farley heads to Connecticut for another weekend of laughs.
Fans can visit Farley’s website, https://www.kevinfarleyofficial.com, for updates and information about his projects and touring dates.