Because It’s Funny!: The Plays of Billy Van Zandt & Jane Milmore

Because It’s Funny is a joyfully candid memoir that perfectly captures the highs and lows of a life spent in comedy. Billy Van Zandt’s career memoir, co-starring his longtime partner-in-laughter Jane Milmore, is not just an account of plays written and staged but a tribute to the gritty, glorious art of making people laugh. Written with the warmth and wit of someone who has seen it all (and taken every fall, breakaway bottle, and pie to the face imaginable), this book is a delightfully unique look at the demanding world of live theater.

Van Zandt’s stories are filled with the slapstick spirit that marks his plays. One particularly memorable account is the “silent movie on stage” production of Silent Laughter, which required nightly pie fights, pratfalls, and absurdly elaborate costumes to recreate the feel of silent film in a live theater setting. He doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges: creating a comedy that requires both the actors and the set itself to be “in on the joke” is no small feat, yet Van Zandt’s fondness for these physically demanding, laugh-a-minute productions shines through every page. His reverence for comedy’s mechanics is palpable, and he makes a convincing case that a well-executed pratfall or perfectly timed line can be as powerful as any dramatic monologue.

The partnership between Van Zandt and Milmore is the heart of this memoir, and his reflections on their creative relationship are both endearing and insightful. Their debut play, Love, Sex, and the I.R.S., born out of pure frustration with Hollywood, set the tone for the rest of their careers. While Van Zandt and Milmore’s writing method was often chaotic—penning their first play between filming scenes on the Star Trek set, with Van Zandt still in his alien makeup—their knack for writing outrageously funny scenarios was undeniable.

The book’s most satisfying parts are Van Zandt’s stories of working with the quirky, loyal cast members who became the Unofficial Van Zandt/Milmore Repertory Company. Through hysterical accounts of accidental on-stage appearances, prop malfunctions, and backstage antics, Van Zandt captures the camaraderie and chaos of live theater. These behind-the-scenes moments make it easy to see why so many actors returned to work with them time and again; he and Milmore were clearly as dedicated to cultivating joy within their cast as they were to delivering laughs to the audience.

Because It’s Funny is an unfiltered, sometimes absurd, and always heartfelt account of what it means to be a comedian. Van Zandt’s reflections are sharp and often self-deprecating, showcasing a man who values the hard work of comedy but also respects its roots in pure, unbridled fun. Fans of stage comedy and aspiring playwrights alike will find inspiration in his relentless dedication to his craft. In the end, Because It’s Funny is more than a memoir; it’s a warm and raucous love letter to comedy itself.