Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. -- The lights were dimmed as people flowed through the doors of the Base Theater, Nov. 7, for an evening filled with a bit of stand up comedy.
Mollie Gross, a spouse of a former Marine, was the performer at the evening show sponsored by Marine Corps Community Services.
Gross was a military wife for four years. Born a southern girl, she now resides in California with her husband. She’s received private coaching and classes, and says she considers herself more of a storyteller than a comedian.
“My focus is to bring my comedy directly to the wives who need entertainment the most, the ones left behind, the silent ranks,” said Gross.
“It was a fun evening,” said Stacey Cmolik, military spouse. “I really enjoyed it, and I’m glad MCCS offered this event. They should definitely offer more like this. It really helps to boost the morale for spouses of deployed service members.”
Gross’s show was centered on circumstances wives face when their husbands are deployed.
“We have to look at the situations we go through, when our spouses are deployed, and find something funny about it,” said Gross. “We’ve got to laugh about it instead of crying.”
Although the show was targeted more at the wives of deployed service members, a few husbands and boyfriends were seen scattered throughout the crowd.
“Mollie Gross is really creative,” said Lance Cpl. Richard VanAkin, an assaultman with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. “The evening was very entertaining. I can understand from the show what my wife goes through when I’m gone.”
Gross’ entertainment grabbed the audience’s attention and didn’t let go as they waited to hear what she would say next during the evening.
“The most rewarding thing is knowing I’ve made someone laugh,” said Gross. “It’s very humbling to me. It means I’ve taken a gift God has given me and I’m using it to help people by making them laugh. I love doing it, it’s what I do.”
Gross has an audio CD being released in about six weeks and a book she’s planning to release next year.
For more information on Mollie Gross, check out her Web site at, www.molliegross.com.