Laughs on clearance Saturday

TORRINGTON — If you’ve driven through Torrington lately, you’ve probably spotted a group of people in orange “Department of Mental Health� T-shirts carrying “liquidation� signs, like the ones you would see outside a department store that’s going out of business. If you looked closely, you saw the signs were actually for a comedy performance at the Warner Theatre.

The signs are for comedian Dave Reilly and opening act Joey “Father Guido� Scarpelli, who will hit the Warner stage this Saturday, April 10, at 8 p.m.

“We wanted to do a spoof on the stores with their liquidation sales, so we just did a comedy liquidation sale,� said Reilly, a Connecticut comic who has gone from playing smaller rooms to being a headlining act at 2,000-plus-seat theaters. “We’re doing a lot more theater shows. We’ve moved on to the next realm.�

Reilly has performed at clubs throughout Connecticut, including Norfolk’s Infinity Hall and the Winsted Elks Lodge, and said he has lots of new material to try out on the Torrington-Winsted crowd.

“To do new material, you’ve got to test it and tweak it, add and subtract. What works on one crowd isn’t always going to work on every crowd. I play all over the country and I’ve tried to make my show generic enough that it works anywhere but funny enough that it’s funnier than anything else you’ve seen.�

Reilly also said his show comes with a money-back guarantee.

“If you watch the show for 30 minutes and you don’t think it’s funny, I’ll give you your money back,� he said.

Somewhat slapstick, bombastic and quick with a retort, Reilly said performing live comedy is his true love.

“There are two types of comedians,� he said. “There are those who are trying to get a sitcom who develop a character and go to California to make a bazillion dollars and those who want to be on stage. My goal has never been to be in the movies. I need instant gratification. I need to hear the roar of laughter and the excitement that comes out of that. There’s no drug that can do that.�

Reilly’s comedy mainly centers around relationships and everyday life situations, with occasional ad-libbing and banter with his audiences. And while he is not out to offend anyone, he won’t shy away from coarse language or political incorrectness. Still, he’s less preachy than Lewis Black or George Carlin.

“There’s a fine line there,� Reilly said. “Comedy is bending without breaking. As soon as you start breaking, a few people are going to follow along with you, but now you’re pissing people off. I think it’s OK if you have a different opinion, as long as you say it in a way that’s funny — not that I care whether you’re offended or not. My intent is not to offend you, but if I do, I really don’t care. I wasn’t doing it on purpose.�

Tickets are still available for Dave Reilly and opening act Joey “Father Guido� Scarpelli this Saturday, April 10, at 8 p.m. For more information, call the Warner Theatre Box Office at 860-489-7180.