Comedy comes to community center

People who are looking for some laughs need look no further than Saratoga this Saturday.

Patrick McManus has been entertaining audiences for years with his stories of growing up in rural Idaho. By 1992, he was recognized as one of America’s funniest humor writers, and at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, his writings will entertain the audience at the Platte Valley Community Center.

Tim Behrens, who acts out McManus’s writing, has been well- received all over the country and in many cases sold out shows.

“A Fine and Pleasant Misery” introduces 12 McManus characters from Rancid Crabtree, who thinks baths are bad because soap and water will eat holes in your protective crust, to hunting for deer on a bicycle.

The McManus comedies are family friendly with hilarious stories of growing up in rural America when you’re dirt poor, a press release said.

McManus has sold more than six million copes of his 23 titles and five of his collections of short humor have made the top 10 of the New York Times Bestseller’s list.

McManus’s writing and Behren’s acting activates the audience’s imagination. “Just enough detail to connect the view to each misadventure,” the press release said.

Behren grew up in an acting family. His father, Frank Behren wrote for several comedians including Tony Randall and Don Knotts. His mom, Amzie Strickland, guest starred on more than 600 TV shows including I Love Lucy and The Andy Griffith Show.

Behren has been been performing McManus’s shows for more than 20 years.

Tickets can be purchased online at pvcenter.org or at the door Saturday night.