The staying power of Bob Marley's New England humor

LACONIA — Comedian Bob Marley is in the midst of a massive Northeast comedy tour, bringing his New England brand of comedy to the Colonial Theatre for three shows next month.

Marley has been at it for 35 years years. He started in clubs and bars in Maine, and worked his way into the Boston and New York circuits, before living in Los Angeles for about a decade. But living and performing in New England has been the true bread and butter for the Mainer.

Marley knows the Lakes Region, saying his family loves to waterski, and they actually compete in tournaments on Lake Winnipesaukee. He has performed before at the Colonial, and also frequently brings his standup routine to the Flying Monkey in Plymouth.

“We are so lucky to be in New England, where we have all these old theaters,” Marley said. “We’ve got a ton of those in New England, and I think that’s super cool, with those spots up top that reminds me of the guys in 'The Muppets.'”

Laughter is the best medicine

Marley’s comedy career stems back to his days at the University of Maine in Farmington, which he lovingly calls “UMaine Sugarloaf.” He was a health major in college, with aspirations of being a health teacher.

“I was funny ... kind of,” he said. “We sponsored a health fair, and one topic was stress management, and they figured laughter is great for that.”

Marley decided to put on a comedy routine centered around everyday life in Maine. He wrote about school, professors, parents, the encounters one has every day, and the humor in all of it.

“I went up there and it went great, and I was like, 'Wait a minute. This is it. I love this.'”

He had an internship with United Way in Portland, and was driving to New York City three nights a week to do standup. After finishing his internship at 4 p.m., Marley would drive to the city to perform at a club, and drive back.

“I was falling asleep in my cubicle, and this nice lady in charge pulled me into the office and asked if I do drugs,” Marley said. “I said, 'No, I went to New York City last night, because I’m a comedian, or trying to be one.'”

The supervisor said she’d come to see his next show, and if he was any good, she’d sign off his hours. Fortunately, she was an instant fan. She saw him again 20 years later, at Portland's Merrill Auditorium, in front of thousands.

“She came up to me and was just smiling, and gave me a big hug,” Marley said. “She was like, 'This was the right decision.'”

Marley went to Los Angeles, to perform on “An Evening at the Improv,” a standup comedy television series that launched some of history’s greatest comics.

He also auditioned at the legendary Comedy Store. Owner Mitzi Shore, mother of comedian Pauly Shore, was impressed.

“She loved me and said I was ‘a regular,’” Marley said with a laugh. “People were amazed that I could get spots, and I didn’t even live there.”

Marley popped into the equally legendary Laugh Factory the following day for an open mic, an opportunity for comedians to do a set for anyone high up in the business watching. The owner there also liked his act, asked if he had an agent, and told him to come back soon, and he might be able to help him out. This led to him signing with an agent who represented Adam Sandler.

Marley performed more than 100 standup routines for television, running the late night circuit as a guest on "The Late Show," "Late Night," and Comedy Central. He appeared in commercials, and landed a movie role in what has become a cult classic: “Boondock Saints.”

A friend of his from Maine told Marley he knew a director, and there was a role perfect for him. He rarely swears now, but that wasn’t always the case. In front of a rowdy crowd at the Laugh Factory, with a lot of energy between him and the audience, the director was there to see his show, and asked Marley to read the script.

“I read it, and it was like, really good,” Marley said. “I auditioned at his apartment, and got the part.”

Marley played bumbling Boston Det. David Greenly, alongside Willem Dafoe, an eccentric FBI agent leading a high-profile investigation. They are trying to track down two Irish brothers who are executing some of the worst crime bosses in the city. The chemistry between Marley and Dafoe is undeniable, and there's one scene in an alley that shows off both of their skills. Much to Dafoe's delight, it was done in one take.

“When it was done, Willem Dafoe came running down the alley and hugged me,” Marley said. “He thought he’d be there all day. He was the best guy ever. Wicked nice.”

The movie is set in Boston, but much of the filming was done in Toronto. Marley's parents drove up to see him, unannounced. He was in a scene with Dafoe, and they started moving closer and closer to the filming.

“I see them out of the corner of my eye as Willem is yelling at me,” Marley said. “I hear, ‘cut,’ and the assistant director said the general public was encroaching into the scene. There are my parents. My dad’s got a stack of Willem Dafoe movies in his hand to sign.”

Dafoe grabbed the stack and went to his trailer, and after filming ended for the day, his father said he would see him at supper. Dafoe was taking them out to eat.

“That’s how nice he is,” Marley said. “He sat with my parents and talked to them all night long. And then my mother — stuff you don’t ever want to hear — says, ‘Willem is not a handsome man, but he is a sexual man.’ My dad said to pipe it down a notch.”

Acting was fun, but not what Marley wanted to pursue. He tecognizes how amazing it was to be in a movie with staying power, which produced a sequel.

“If I was only going to do a couple movies, it’s pretty cool to be those.”

A familiar name

The elephant in the room is that Marley shares a name with the legendary reggae singer. While he doesn’t get confused often anymore, there was a time when he started receiving the singer's estate’s royalty checks, while living in Los Angeles.

“I open it up, and it is like $6,000 for History of Rock Part 1,” Marley said. “I had no idea what it was, but it was Bob Marley’s residual checks. I had to call the union and be like, 'That’s not me.'”

A year later, he was on the "Late Show with David Letterman," and Ziggy Marley was the musical guest.

“Ziggy thought it was hilarious,” Marley said. “I went to his dressing room and he started laughing. I also told him about the check, and that I mailed it back. He said that was sweet, but, ‘You know, I don’t need the money.’”

Marley never makes the namesake part of his act, saying he doesn’t want the cheap hook. He did tell Ziggy he was a fan. Strangely enough, he got offers over the years to open for him in The Bahamas.

“Everyone thought it was a great idea and I was like, 'That is the dumbest and most disrespectful idea I’ve ever heard,'” Marley said, laughing. “But if I’m going to share a name with someone, holy God, what a great name and person.”

Back to Maine

Marley's career was surging out West, but he knew he wanted to be in New England, with his family. He and his wife were living in California, and after his first of three children were born, he asked her how she felt about going back.

“I wanted my kids to have what I had, which was to freeze my ass off and have no money,” Marley said. “The two best decisions I made was moving to LA, and then coming back.”

In SoCal, Marley said someone’s always watching, and looking to assist your career. He was guarded, and felt he wasn’t doing what he was made it do.

“Which is to 'comede,' is that a verb?” Marley said. “I was writing a ton, but I couldn’t comede. I’d see guys from ABC, and couldn’t do any new stuff. When I got back, the restraints were off.”

Unlike in Hollywood, since Marley moved back in 2005, he's been able to write, edit, direct and act in anything he wants.

“It is exactly what I want to present,” Marley said. “I’m not really polarizing, and there’s no politics. I make fun of myself, and my family.”

All his characters are based on life, whether it be family or friends, or people he runs into at the store, or around town.

“I’m Irish Catholic, and I’ve got these crazy relatives,” Marley said. “These are all inspired by real people, but I change the names to protect the innocent. Except Uncle Jerry. He’s the only one.”

Living in New England never leaves a person, and Marley plants that right into his act. He said that resonates with his audience.

“I always have a big theme of what it’s like living here. I mean, really surviving here, and existing here, in New England,” Marley said. “It’s a beautiful place, but we pay.”

He's found he doesn’t need to change his bit based on where he is performing. While his tour is generally of the Northeast these days, he said he can go to New York City, and have fans coming up to him, saying their relatives are just like his.

“They’ll say, 'My parents are crazy, too,'” Marley said. “People can relate, no matter where you are. Especially the cold weather states.”

Studying health in college, he thinks that element drips into his focus on comedy. When something resonates with a crowd, or a fan in the audience, he can feel it.

“I have a lot of funny friends and it feels great to laugh,” Marley said. “I see people laughing, and you get on a pulse where the room is on that same pulse.”

Marley is at the Colonial Theatre for three shows next month, Friday and Saturday, July 10-11. For details, visit coloniallaconia.com.