1 Degree of Separation brings a bit of warmth on a cold Saturday evening

Posted By: David Fortier January 26, 2024

By David Fortier

For Brad Bonar Jr. the realization came when he was 54 years old and recently hospitalized for suicidal ideation–he’d been thinking about whether life was worth living since he was 12, he said–a serious situation which he had hidden–until he started looking for answers.

After talking with friends, among them health professionals, Bonar decided on a unique path to healing–he founded the comedy group, 1 Degree of Separation–which addresses depression and suicide in its “A Funny Look at Depression and Suicide,” which came to the Rockwell Theater last Saturday on a bitterly cold night.

1 Degree of Separation comic Jay stares down a member of the audience. | David Fortier

Bonar, who performed and emceed the evening was joined by several area comics, Stacy, Rodney and Jay, who shared their own stories in individual standup routines. Often, the routines included deep dark moments that, through comedic storytelling and terrific timing, brought both recognition of the seriousness of the subject and healing laughter.

After their individual standup routines, the four held a discussion around five questions:

  1. What does your depression feel like?
  2. What do others do that make it worse?
  3. What do others do that make it better?
  4. What do you do that makes it worse?
  5. What do you do that makes it better?

At one point, as an example of the type of territory covered, Stacy was sharing her experience with recovery via a 12-step program, when Bonar, interrupted to say that he highly recommended these programs.

1 Degree of Separation founder Brad Bonar Jr. provides another moment of levity while discussing difficult topics. | David Fortier

In fact, he said, if you haven’t been through a program, you should get addicted to something so that you could attend.

“Have a lot of money?” he said. “Take up gambling.”

Note: Not something to be taken literally, of course, but something to laugh about, together.

At the end of the discussion, Bonar invited representatives from area health providers to the stage to introduce themselves. Audience members were then directed, if they chose, to get more information about mental health services at tables setup throughout the lower floor of the theater.

The free program was one in a series of community-wide conversations sponsored by the Bristol Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services in cooperation with its Downtown Live productions.

For more information about 1 Degree of Separation, click here.

The next Downtown Live production is the “Animaniacs” on Saturday, Feb. 17. “Funny Women–of a Certain Age will be performed on March 9, “The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System,” on March 30 and “The Drifters,” on April 20.

For information about Downtown Live, click here.

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All TBE readers, supporters and donors                

The Bristol Edition will be limiting the number of stories non-members and free readers may access each week. This decision is based on our financial projections and, most certainly, to remind people that TBE is serious about providing accurate, timely and thorough reporting for Bristol. To do this we have devised a financial support structure that makes unlimited access extremely affordable, beginning with a $6 monthly donation.                

  • Non-members will be able to access four (4) articles per week.                
  • Free readers and people who have subscribed by email will be able to access four (4) articles per week.                
  • Donors and financial supporters will have unlimited access as long as they log in.                

Note: Donors may have to contact TBE if they find they are being limited, since we will need to set up a membership account for you. Email editor@bristoledition.org for instructions. Sorry for any inconvenience. People with financial difficulties may write editor@bristoledition.org to be considered for free access.