- Comedian Kevin Hart drew endless laughs on Thursday night during his performance at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.
- Hart's show was part of his Reality Check Tour 2023.
- Jokes ranged from LeBron James and Will Smith to Hart's own short stature.
CANTON − Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium became an oasis of laughter Thursday night as star comedian Kevin Hart cracked jokes about LeBron James' hair, unflattering fan art and plastic surgery.
And that's just a mere sampling of the array of subjects used by the celebrity actor to poke fun at both himself and the world around him.
For roughly an hour, Hart rattled off his wisecracks with unyielding energy and animated facial expressions while often gesturing with his arms and hands. Other times he paused dramatically, his eyes widening as the crowd waited for his next line.
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Crowd appeared to be more than 10,000
Canton was a stop on Hart's Reality Check Tour, which has included shows both overseas and in the United States. Hart performs on Friday at the Fallsview Casino Resort at Niagara Falls, Ontario. Earlier this week, he performed in Dayton.
Hart was holding court at Tom Benson Stadium, part of the Hall of Fame Village, a 100-acre plus entertainment campus built around the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Grammy and Emmy-nominated Hart has become a high-profile entertainer both through his joke telling and as an actor in films such as "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" (2017), "Jumanji: The Next Level," (2019), "Ride Along" (2014) and "Fatherhood" (2021).
A large crowd of what appeared to be more than 10,000 people roared with laughter and squealed and giggled with delight throughout the performance.
Prior to the show, Parisia Applegate, 32, of Hudson, said she was looking forward to seeing one of the premier comedians nationally perform in Canton.
"What household can you go into and bring him up and not know who he is?" she said of Hart. "Whether you like him or not, you know who he is."
Lakeesha Dotson, 41, of Canton, said she was excited about seeing Hart a second time live. She had watched him in Cleveland several years ago.
"He's up there," she said of famous current comedians. "I'm a big cartoon fan, so when you branch out into cartoons, you've really hit it big. You're reaching all audiences − adults and children.
"He does some of everything," Dotson added. "He doesn't limit himself just to acting or comedy."
'They're giving out height!'
Jokes about plastic surgery were followed by LeBron. Noting he's good friends with the Akron native, Hart said the NBA icon went from being a younger player with a disappearing hairline to replenishing it as a veteran. The comic said he was puzzled because Black men don't get toupees.
"He hasn't heard this joke yet," Hart said of the former Cleveland Cavalier. "We'll see what happens."
Making fun of his own stature, he exclaimed, "They're giving out height!"
The 43-year-old Philadelphia native said it's now apparently possible to become taller by lengthening your legs. Doing so would leave his arms out of proportion, Hart quipped. "I'd look like a T-Rex touching his chest."
Hart stood alone on stage in front of a red backdrop. Bright lights beamed as he was flanked by two large vertical video screens.
Filling out a black button-down, red-striped shirt, the muscular comedian spoke into a large gold microphone. Moving about the stage, Hart's jokes flowed steadily from topic to topic.
Fan art draws big laughs
"Crazy people" baffle the funnyman. But "nobody plans on being crazy," he explained. "It just happens ... look at Will Smith."
The joke was a reference to Smith infamously slapping comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars in 2022.
Laughter erupted and reached a crescendo when fan art appeared on the screens. Hart said the drawings destroyed his self-esteem.
"These pictures are hurtful," he cracked. "When did I have a stroke? Look at the left side of my face."
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'That's how the world gets better.'
Prior to Hart taking the stage, opening acts were comedians Joey Wells, Will "Spank" Horton and Na'im Lynn.
The audience clearly enjoyed the trio, known as "The Plastic Cup Boyz." However, Tom Benson Stadium became a non-stop laugh factory when Hart was up. Even when channeling stories from his own life − trips to Mexico with friends, his late father's penchant for funny nicknames, and Hart's efforts at civil advocacy in the Black Lives Matter movement − the comedian always did so playfully and self-deprecatingly.
As the show ended, Hart basked in the applause while thanking the crowd effusively.
"I love you," he said. "Thank you guys for the laughs, thank you for the support. I love you all.
"... I did my job," Hart added. "My job is to make you feel good."
"Do me a favor," he told the adoring crowd, encouraging attendees to transfer the positivity to someone else. "That's how the world gets better."
Sending a kiss to the audience, Hart bowed before flashing a peace sign with two of his fingers and then waving as he departed the stage.
Reach Ed at ebalint@gannett.com.
On Twitter @ebalintREP
