Molly Shannon details the childhood tragedy and domestic environment that shaped her comedic career. Following a catastrophic car accident that killed her mother, sister, and cousin, Shannon was raised by her grieving, occasionally reckless father in Shaker Heights. She explains how this early loss and the resulting lack of supervision led her to develop the physical stamina and wild characters seen later on Saturday Night Live. The narrative follows her from Catholic school antics and a cross-country train trip as a child to the creation of Mary Katherine Gallagher.
Readers looking for an account of how grief translates into performance will find a specific blueprint here. It is suited for those interested in the technical development of character work and the realities of the professional comedy circuit in the nineties. The reader gains an understanding of how personal resilience and a high tolerance for social risk-taking fuel a career in show business. Shannon provides a look at the connection between a turbulent upbringing and the uninhibited energy required for live television.
Practical, inward-looking and clear-cut; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2022
- Language
- EN
