A Comedy That Can Make You Cry

Humorist Polly Frost believes that people who had perfectly happy childhoods can still develop less-than-happy relationships with their family during adulthood.

She incorporated this hypothesis into her one-woman show, “How to Survive Your Adult Relationship with Your Family,” which comes to the in San Juan Capistrano 8 p.m. Saturday.

In her show, Frost uses sincerity, as well as humor, to discuss how relationships between family members are altered once adulthood settles in.

“My show is very funny and very heartfelt. It’s about the fact when you get to be an adult, your family can change in ways you’ve never predicted, through divorces, marriages and people changing,” Frost said.

In the past few years, Frost noticed changes had developed in her own relationship with family members, she said.

“I realized I wasn’t the only one. Everyone I knew was going through this. You could have had the happiest childhood in the world, just like I did, and you get into your adult life and experience all these emotional curveballs that rock your world. For one thing, whom people in your family marry can have a big effect. ”

That personal experience motivated Frost, a Southern California native and writer for 25 years – working for such publications as New Yorker, the New York Times and The Atlantic – to create and perform her show, which combines storytelling, survival tips and observations.

Audience members of “How to Survive Your Adult Relationship with Your Family,” are in for an evening of laughter, but don't be surprised if you shed a tear or two, she said.

“That’s really what maybe humor is about, laughing over crazy things in our family makes it better,” she said. “I love standup comedy but I didn’t want to go that route with this show. It’s funny, but I also wanted it to be very heartfelt. The show is very therapeutic for people because it makes them realize someone else is in the same situation.”

In a world so focused on technology, Frost said audiences need live theater like never before.

“Live performances and live connections have become more important than ever. That’s what I really wanted to experience, that live connection with an intimate audience,” Frost said.

The performer-audience relationship isn't one she shares with her family. They have not seen her play. But the ones who do go are bound to leave the show feeling cheerful and at ease, Frost hopes.

At least, that's how she feels after a performance.

“People come up to me afterwards and tell me they have to share a story with me," she said. "I’ve toured all over, and audiences love it because they can really relate. That’s what makes the show totally worthwhile for me.”