At his peak, Robin Williams was a force in the entertainment industry. He could run with the best of them in dramatic films, and if it was a comedy he was front and center. He achieved most of his notoriety first in television, and of course, on stage doing stand-up comedy. Known for his high energy persona and quick pacing, Williams was almost a completely different person when performing as a comedian. Twenty years ago, he performed on Broadway in an HBO special that was said to be a return to form for the comic. It’s now streaming on YouTube.
Robin Williams Live on Broadway was the comedian’s fourth stand-up special at the time of its airing.
Robin Williams Live on Broadway was the comedian’s fourth stand-up special at the time of its airing. Williams had not technically had his own individual special since 1986 when he decided to return to the stage in 2002. The special hosts a full house, with Robin Williams starting and barely stopping the entire almost hour and forty minutes of run time. In true Williams’ fashion, he begins and ends the show with enough energy to power a small city. Moving from one topic to the next and barely catching his breath in between, Williams takes the stage as though he never left it. He covers points ranging from the wars in the Middle East, the Olympics, the World Cup, and even characters of the Bible.
There is undoubtedly no comedian like that of Robin Williams. Armed with what looks like fifteen bottles of water, Williams immediately attacks his live audience with soul, swagger, and quite literally, sweat. The way he’s able to animate every talking point, physically manifesting each joke for his audience is untouched by any other. He treats the special as though it’s an athletic event in bouncing from one end of the stage to the next, though definitely breaking an obvious sweat when doing it. He also has a way of seguing into each new topic that on one hand is lightning fast, yet on the other is somehow smooth and uniquely stylish. His transitions are done so in a hurry, but without missing the punchline or ruining the set-up. He is vulgar, perverse, tasteless, and profane, all in a way that allows him to get away with it clean (dirty, but, clean). This was truly the performance of a lifetime, one of the last vintage performances the legendary performer would ever have the chance to do again.
Robin Williams would do just one more special years after, but as with all people, his time would eventually come. His tragic exit from the world as well as the industry has left a scar that is likely to never fully heal for those who consider themselves fans. It is in fact performances like he delivered in Robin Williams Live on Broadway that made his departure all the more sudden. One could never believe he had anything to be unhappy about, but this only shows the depth of his pain and how far down he chose to bury it.
