Comedy Legends Steve Martin and Martin Short Cement Their Status with Dukes of Funnytown Tour

Nora Iadarola ‘29 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

On November 7th and 8th, comedy legends Steve Martin and Martin Short brought their Dukes of Funnytown tour to two sold-out audiences at the Wang Theater in Boston. The performance also featured Jeff Babko, a pianist known for doing musical arrangements for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and the Steep Canyon Rangers, an Asheville-based bluegrass band that has toured with the comedy duo for fifteen years and worked with Martin on two bluegrass albums.

The show mixed comedy, music, and storytelling, with the two comedians playfully roasting each other throughout the course of the night. One highlight was when both Short and Martin read out their eulogies for each other’s funerals. Short took the cake thanks to his exuberant acting and effortless ability to take a joke much farther than the audience would expect it to go.

The show was definitely targeted toward their older fans, with a classic style of comedy that leans heavily on nostalgia, references, and the breezy banter that Martin and Short have honed over their many years in the industry. Despite that, the material is suitable for any age, and while there are plenty of comedic moments that could work in any show, only these two could pull off as effortlessly.

Both comedians also had their own segments of the show, each catering to their specific talents. Short did his own bit where he sat on the piano telling personal anecdotes, then jumped into a performance of “Stepbrother to Jesus,” a song from an imaginary nude rock musical about Jesus’ stepbrother. The hilarious performance also included a surprisingly raunchy song and outfit, with Martin coming back on stage to poke fun at his absurd humor. 

During Martin’s solo moment in the show, he played a few banjo songs with the Steep Canyon Rangers before letting the band play a few songs of their own. The Steep Canyon Rangers performed an impressive and memorable two-song set that showcased each member’s musical stylings, likely securing some new fans in the audience that night.

The only critique of the show is that it heavily overlaps with Martin and Short’s 2018 special An Evening You Will Forget For the Rest of Your Life and their previous tour You Won’t Believe What They Look Like Today (2023). However, this minor flaw can easily be overlooked when you’re witnessing one of the most well-put-together comedy/variety shows of this decade—from two of the most legendary comedians alive. It feels more like a greatest-hits tour, one that perfectly highlights everything that people love about the comedy duo of Steve Martin and Martin Short.

If Steve and Marty ever make their way back to Boston, it is worth snagging a ticket. You won’t want to miss it.