“So, a guy walks into a doctor’s office . . .”

By Michael Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

I was recently in New York City for my 40th medical school reunion. While I was there, I had the opportunity to see Billy Crystal’s new Broadway play, a one-man show titled “860.” To borrow a word he used as a cast member on “Saturday Night Live,” the play was “mahvelous.” Crystal is known across generations for his roles on the television shows “All in the Family” and “Soap,” as well as in the comedy films “When Harry Met Sally” (“I’ll have what she’s having”), “City Slickers,” and the classic “The Princess Bride,” in which he played the wonderful character Miracle Max.

Crystal’s new play, “860,” is a “memorial” to his house at 860 Chautauqua Boulevard that burned to the ground in last year’s Pacific Palisades fires. He recounts the devastation and sadness of losing almost everything but the memories. He also touches on the sadness of losing his best friend, Rob Reiner, last year. But the play’s theme is that laughter can help us cope. Indeed, as I sat in the audience, I moved repeatedly from tears to laughter.

One of the few things to survive the fire was a large stone outside his house, etched with the word “laughter.” Therein lies the purpose of the play: to cope with tragedy and sadness by somehow shifting toward laughter. As a physician, I’ve long relied on humor with my patients, trying, when appropriate, to elicit a smile or a laugh. For many years, when meeting patients in either the outpatient setting or the hospital, I’ve asked, “What brings you joy?” to build rapport. Since seeing “860,” I’ve started asking some patients, “What makes you laugh?” Their responses have been rich and revealing, and I often share my own answers as well. I hope you consider trying it.

This piece expresses the views solely of the author. It does not necessarily represent the views of any organization, including Johns Hopkins Medicine.