John Cheever - The Angel of the Bridge - read by Malachy McCourt 00:00 / 25:13

Charlie Varon's satire and other mischief The Many Voices of Charlie Varon #4 Satire, Pranks and Other Comic Bonbons Comic Bonbon #4: "Mitch's Silence," featuring Studs Terkel & Dr. Oliver Sacks September 2023 I can't stop thinking about Sen. Mitch McConnell and that news conference, the one where he froze and went silent for 30 seconds. Then my friend Jim Rosenau sends me a link. It's to an old radio show . Studs Terkel, champion interviewer, is talking to beloved neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks. Both men are gone now, but Jim knows how much I love their voices. "A twofer," Jim says. I listen to the interview, then start doing their voices, just riffing to myself, which makes me exceedingly happy. Then the question poses itself: McConnell's silence + Studs Terkel + Oliver Sacks = ? I rough something out, call David Ford, and we get going. As is often the case, the best details come from David's fertile comic mind. Mitch's Silence 00:00 / 04:52 Keep the bonbons coming! Email me when the next one is ready! Email Subscribe

Free writing workshop Monday mornings in SF Start your week immersed in creativity and community Charlie's Monday Salon a welcoming space for writers and performers to connect, create, and share When: Mondays, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Where: Noe Valley Ministry, 1021 Sanchez St, San Francisco Upcoming Dates: Aug 31, Sept 14, Sept 28 Salon Schedule 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Writing Session Work from Charlie's writing prompts or focus on your own project. Then, 10 minutes to share work with a fellow writer 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Community Sharing Listen to new works presented by writers and performers. Additional Information: Participation is flexible; drop in as your schedule allows. There is no admission fee; donations are welcome. All are welcome, regardless of experience level. Click here & I'll keep you posted Find out about my small group workshops

In the spring of 2002, Charlie and collaborator David Ford tried an experiment. They created a show from scratch in ten days. The evening of eight monologues (called "Ten Day Soup") included political satire, stand-up comedy, and personal memoir. Audience response was unlike anything Charlie had experienced: "Thank you for your courage." "Thank you for ideas that challenged me." "Thank you for saying what I was thinking." Working quickly and intuitively allowed Charlie and David to create a new kind of work: less polished but more vulnerable and alive. In the autumn of 2002 Charlie and David cooked up a second round of Soup–six more monologues–which received an equally strong response. The monologues created in 2002 form the basis of Charlie's evolving show “Soup of the Day.” The show can be adapted to a variety of venues and audiences, with topical political material being added and revised as events unfold. Here are audio samples from Soup of the Day: Picketers in front of Noam Chomsky's house Ushering in a redemptive age My spiritual awakening Listening to Leishmaniasis The Gentile at the bat mitzvah Grandma Dora (a memoir) Elea Avon More about the artistic process behind Soup of the Day... Buy the Ten Day Soup CD

Election anxiety Charlie Varon's Comic Bonbons #16: Election Anxiety Election anxiety 00:00 / 03:54 Written & performed by Charlie Varon Special thanks to David Ford & J.P. Tilleman Feeeling a tad anxious about the election? Click here

Charlie Varon & David Ford, improv rehearsal for "Alan Watts Returns" podcast (Nov 17 2022) Rehearsal Audio - Fall 2022 On Nov 17, 2022 Charlie and his long-time collaborator David Ford worked via telephone on new material for their satiric podcast, Alan Watts Returns . Listen in on this improv rehearsal. 00:00 / 17:38

Charlie Varon's satire and other mischief Charlie Varon 's Comic Bonbons #6: Alan Watts, "We Am" We Am 00:00 / 03:03 Written by Charlie Varon & David Ford Performed by Charlie Varon Keep the bonbons coming! Email me when the next one is ready! Email Subscribe

Charlie Varon's satire and other mischief Comic Bonbon #2 Comic Bonbon #2: Bernie's Dream August 23, 2023. Of all the voices I do, none gives me more pleasure than that of Bernie Sanders. I cooked this up yesterday and sent a draft to David Ford, my collaborator and director for 30+ years. David listened and asked the question that unlocked the piece. I recorded again this morning and sent it to him and then to Joe Dunn, who told me to post it right away. Bernie's Dream 00:00 / 02:47 Keep the bonbons coming! Email me when the next one is ready! Email Subscribe

Free writing workshop Do you want to write but... ...can't seem to get started? ...get distracted and give up? ...don't like the isolation? Make 2024 the year you commit to your writing with... 5-8 appointments to write A writing community Conversation with other writers A 1:1 coaching session with me Start t he New Year WRITE! Led by Charlie Varon Every Wednesday - 8am Pacific Time $ Sign up here [eventbrite link] "I am really enjoying writing in community. This is the easiest writing has ever been for me."

What drivers say after honking The Honking Report On some Saturdays my partner, Myra, and I spend an hour at the anti-Maga protest outside the Tesla dealership in San Francisco. What's evolved is quite magical. We stand on O'Farrell Street holding our signs that encourage honking. On any given cycle of the traffic light, two to ten drivers will honk. Some then have to stop at the red light. Myra and I have different approaches. She goes up to cars stopped at the light and offers the driver a "Make America Human" pin. I approach drivers and say, “Thanks for honking!" When they open their window, I say: "These are crazy times we’re living in. What keeps you sane?” Some highlights from this week's conversations with honkers... Black woman in her 40s. She points a finger up. “My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He’s in charge.” She pauses, smiles. “And then, seeing you all out here – I know you’re angels he’s sent.” Shirtless Asian man, late 20s or early 30s. “Training.” What are you training for? “Soccer!” The light turns green and he’s gone. Filipino man in his 50s or 60s. He says: “This is too much. This has to end.” I say: “We are many. We are powerful. And we will eventually win. But what I want to know is, When is eventually? And will I live to see it?” “Oh, you will. We will.” White guy in his 40s. “Fuck that guy!” (Trump) “What keeps you going?” “My family and my passions.” Long-haired tattooed, white man late 30s, maybe 40s, unkempt, cheerful, scraggly beard. “I don’t know.” (Pause) “Marijuana!” Young woman in her 20s, bright eyed, Asian. “Reading the food section and the politics section.” I ask, “In what order?” “The politics section first. Then the food section as a reward!” White man driving a Mini Cooper. Early forties. Loud, fun, an extrovert. “Hair! Doing people’s hair! I’m a hairdresser. Making people look good! At least what I think is good.” We laugh. We high-five. A couple, white, in their 40s or 50s. The man says: “Ignoring the news. Don’t give him any more mind share.” A 40something white woman in a baseball cap. “Dancing. And my kids. And donating to Democrats.” White woman about 40. “Friends and family. Reading 1440.” She explains that “1440” is a news site. A white man, my age, doesn’t honk. Rolls his window all the way down. He is ruddy-faced and loud. “No Kings?” (He’s referring to my "Honk for No Kings" sign.) “What about the Democrats all clapping for King Charles when he spoke to Congress? Why did they clap for a king?” Hostility oozes out of him. Grievance. “I don’t know,” I say. “You tell me.” “You’re a traitor!” he informs me. A snake spitting his venom. “Have a blessed day!” I say. “ You have a blessed day!” he spits back. * I left the demonstration thinking about three of my interlocutors: The born-again Black woman. The loud gay hairdresser. The aggrieved Maga man with his gotcha talking point. If I were to put these characters onstage, or in a movie, I would be accused of stereotyping. Correctly accused. And yet there they were, each in their car, each playing their part. With complete commitment. Full embodiment. No self-consciousness. No self-doubt. Pitch perfect. But what if I put them onstage, not in their cars, but in the same room? What would they have to say to one other? * Other stuff I'm up to: Small group workshops My coaching & mentoring for writers My free online writing community

The San Francisco Chronicle has credited Charlie Varon with “redefining the art form of solo theater.” For 30 years, Charlie has written, performed, directed and taught at The Marsh Theater in San Francisco. His award-winning shows – all created in collaboration with David Ford – include Rush Limbaugh in Night School , The People’s Violin , Rabbi Sam , and Second Time Around , a collaboration with world-renowned cellist Joan Jeanrenaud. In 2018, in response to the political crisis, he and Brian Copeland created and performed a collection of monologues called The Great American Sh*t Show. As collaborator/director, Charlie has worked with Dan Hoyle since 2004, on his many hit solo shows. Over the years Charlie’s writing has appeared in The New Yorker , The Atlantic and other publications.

The Return of Pete Seeger Charlie Varon 's Comic Bonbons #10: "For Pete Seeger's Sake " Pete Seeger bonbon Feb 29 00:00 / 02:01 Written & performed by Charlie Varon Special thanks to J.P. Tilleman Keep the bonbons coming! Email me when the next one is ready! Email Subscribe Attention, writers and performers: I have openings for mentoring/coaching starting in mid-March.