Chris Fleming

Chris Fleming channels his social anxieties into wonderfully awkward comedy, recognizing the wealth of folly to be found in misconstrued cues and neuroses. He is perhaps best known for Gayle, a 41-episode web series in which he played Gayle Waters-Waters, a status-obsessed suburban mother. The show allowed him free reign to lambast the more ridiculous aspects of that life, such as exhibiting a manic commitment to physical fitness and the art of exchanging superficial pleasantries with passive-aggressive neighbors. Whereas Gayle is an over-the-top caricature of suburban dementia, Fleming’s standup persona is relatively grounded. Onstage, he is more inclined to share personal accounts of irrationality, riffing on his perceived inadequacies and self-esteem. Fleming’s latest set at the Cedar should include reflective musings, social commentary, and musical interludes, all united by a delightful sense of absurdity. All ages.