Julia Oller The Columbus Dispatch @juliaoller

They finish each others sentences so often that the two comedians (and best pals) could be their own "Before and After" answer on Wheel of Fortune: Steve Martin Short.

Their work in the 1986 buddy comedy Three Amigos ignited the real-life friendship between Steve Martin and Martin Short.

Martin had recently entered the movie business after giving up his longtime stand-up comedy career because of creative burnout. The funnyman then traded punchlines for plucking, releasing several banjo-backed albums with his band, the Steep Canyon Rangers.

Short whom Martin calls Marty hosted a season of "Saturday Night Live" before landing in films such as Father of the Bride (also starring Martin) and appearing in Broadway musical productions.

Even though their interests intersected, the two never took their jokes beyond the friendship, until an invitationto speakat a Chicago comedy conference in 2012 sparked an epiphany.

It was a success," Short said, "because we were reminded that we had a natural chemistry with each other."

They beefed up the comedy bits, added banjo interludes and slapped on a convincing title, An Evening Youll Forget for the Rest of Your Lives."

Martin and Short will perform the show Sunday at the Ohio Theatre, where the same tongue-in-cheek humor will mark the back-and-forth banter in the show.

It constantly is changing and, for a few minutes, we talk to people and tell stories about people and our lives that are funny, Martin said. And then Marty comes out.

The general structure of the vaudeville-esque performance is set, but the comedians make room for improving their witticisms.

We often write notes for each other or make a suggestion on performing or timing, said Martin, 71. Theres nothing problematic between us.

Short, 67, sticks to corporeal improvements.

Steve usually suggests different lines that could make my section better, and my suggestions are about hygiene, he quipped.

Even though Martin and Short have an easygoing rapport onstage, they save the inside jokes for after-hours.

Neither one of us want to do anything the audience cant grasp in some way, Martin said. We dont mind jokes that are funny to us but get a small laugh, but we dont want to do jokes that get nothing. Were paranoid in that way.

For all their ribbing, Martin and Short are quick to praise each others artistic abilities.

Short stands by during Martins finger-picking segments I let them do what they do brilliantly, and Im off doing something I havent yet figured out how to do brilliantly, he said.

Said Martin:Ill tell you what Marty does do brilliantly sing. Hes never sharp; hes never flat.

Just as the friends had no plans to start their variety show, they now have no plans to quit one, either.

Comedy is something you can only practice while doing it, Martin said. Youve got to be in front of it so we just keep booking shows and make the audience suffer until we figure what were doing.

joller@dispatch.com

@juliaoller

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Comedy show preview | Short, Martin exploit their 'natural chemistry' - The Columbus Dispatch