By Nick A. Zaino III Globe correspondent, Updated February 7, 2025
You can learn a lot about someone by what makes them laugh. For those who find themselves at the beginning of a new romance, or even a new friendship, there are plenty of Valentine’s Day and Galentine’s Day shows next weekend to use as a compatibility litmus test.
“Comics usually bring up some uncomfortable things,” said Brieana Woodward, who is doing three themed shows at the Comedy Studio and the Rockwell this week. “On a first date, if you see a guy cracking up at women-disparaging material, a girl can then know, ‘Oh, here’s a red flag.’ It can be helpful.”
When audience participation is added to the equation, the potential for learning about a date is even greater. Patty Barrett, who is co-directing Improv Asylum’s Galentine’s Day Show and directing the Valentine’s Day show, says her improv casts will often ask for suggestions from the crowd. If you’re coming to the show on the first date, she suggests you think before you shout.
Barrett remembers one particularly disturbing answer to the question “What is the last thing you bought on Amazon?”