By TRACEY D'ASTOLFO

By TRACEY D'ASTOLFO
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Humor is subjective. What's funny to one person may not be funny to another.
Sometimes, it's a regional thing, too.
So what tickles Youngstown's funny bone?
Todd Hancock, co-founder of Easy Street Productions in Youngstown, said improvisational and interactive humor seems to be a big draw with audiences in the area, citing the success of their production of "Pump Boys and Dinettes" in the '80s, which ran for two years.
"I think the main thing that brought people back again and again and again was the improv factor," said Hancock. "In other words, in being a little different and including the audience, rather than just doing something funny in front of an audience -- including them as part of the show. We try to do that with all of our shows over the years, have that relating with the audience."
Maureen Collins, Hancock's partner at Easy Street Productions, said the younger people she knows laugh at things like the WWE [professional wrestling] and the Nickelodeon cartoon "SpongeBob SquarePants." "Anything that pokes fun," she said.
Hard to pin down
Patty Moretti, business manager at the Youngstown Playhouse, said the recent production of the female version of "The Odd Couple" did very well at the Playhouse, as has the male version of the play. She said another comedy that was extremely well-received was "Nunsense," but she says it's hard to pinpoint one type of humor that's appreciated most in the area.
"It's hard to predict. You never know what shows will do well. We're at [the audience's] mercy," Moretti said, with a laugh.
Dave Robich, owner of Funny Farm Comedy Club in Liberty, agrees that it isn't easy to pinpoint one style of humor that the Valley always comes back for more of.
"Variety is the key to success," said Robich. "It doesn't matter if it's a clean comedian or a dirty comedian ... a political comedian or somebody who likes to talk about marriage and everyday family life -- we have an audience. I think there is an audience for every one of them here in the Youngstown market because, well, families definitely prevail here but at the same time, there's a lot of single people out there who might enjoy something different than a family comedian."
Robich said his taste in comedy has evolved over the years, and he prefers variety himself.
"Fifteen years ago, everything made me laugh, I was the easiest audience. But over the years my thoughts on what's funny changed and it's a little more difficult to make me laugh now. I admire the comedians most that maybe you don't get the roll-on-the-floor belly laughs from, but they make you stop and think, 'Hey, that was funny, that was very clever.'"
Robich said one of his favorite acts is Carrot Top, because of his energy, creativity and ingenuity, but he also likes Scott Wyler, who is very low-key but a brilliant writer of very smart comedy.
Movie preferences
Collins said when it comes to comedy she prefers the old standards, like Lucille Ball and Dick Van Dyke.
Hancock said "Blazing Saddles" and "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World," are movies that always give him a laugh.
OK, you know what the pros think.
But you're the audience. It's your choice that matters.
Now, choose!