Friday, May 25, 1990

By PEGGY GRAHAM

Daily News Reporter

For comedian Emery Emery, comedy acts are like group therapy sessions where everybody else has to pay but him.

"There's therapeutic value in comedy," Emery says.

Emery is in a somber mood, having just witnessed a man hitting an infant in a car. Emery thinks he'll include the incident in a skit.

"I do dark humor - social commentary. I like to attack social problems," he says.

Emery says humor can come from serious topics by making fun of the obvious, the stupid. Emery sharpens his humor to attack gay bashing and racism in addition to child abuse.

"It's not a cause, but most comics don't take responsibility for the material they present," Emery says.

Photo By Scott Smith

Emery wears black because he thinks it helps with his stage presence in keeping with black humor and serious issues.

Emery's 45-minute to one hour show isn't all social commentary. He also talks about his relationships with women and his travels driving across the country.

Emery lived in Olathe for five years before going on the road last November. Now he claims Liberty as home. He's traveled an east-coast circuit, west-coast circuit, north and south-coast circuit, taking in places like Los Angeles, New York City and most recently St. Martin, West Indies. He writes five minutes on local topics at every location. Emery performed at colleges for about 1 1/2, years; now he's into night clubs.

Barring a nuclear war, Emery says comedy clubs will be strong. He thinks the caliber of comedians is improving.

Emery got into comedy at the urging of friends. He wrote three minutes of an act to perform as an amateur at Stanford Comedy House in Westport.

"I found out I was funny a couple of times in three minutes," Emery says.

He says it took about a year before he was really funny. The transformation came through persistence and honing of natural talent, he said.

Performing at Stanford Comedy House this weekend is a hometown-boy-made-good story for Emery. He says it's a rarity for a local person to headline in a local club.

"It's an ego boost and a huge boost to my career," Emery says.

In his estimation, Kansas City audiences are among the hardest to make laugh because they're intelligent.

They're not going to give it to you. You have to earn it," Emery says. "That's why Kansas City comics are stronger

Emery's ultimate goal is national network coverage, specifically David Letterman's show. How long will he stay in comedy?

"Forever," he says.

Off stage, Emery is not always on as a comedian.

"I'm not a clown. It just depends on where I am and what I'm thinking. Right now, I guess I'm still thinking about that dad who was beating his kid."