One of 16th-century Italy's most popular forms of entertainment was stand-up commedia dell'arte, where masked performers would pantomime observational bits on Machiavellian politics and the deal with airplane food. Enjoy modern merriment with today's Groupon: for $17, you get two tickets to a Friday or Saturday early show (a $25 value), plus $10 toward an appetizer (most are less than $10), at the MinneHAHA Comedy Club, located just south of the river in Burnsville. Friday early shows are at 8:30 p.m., while Saturday early shows are at 8 p.m.

MinneHAHA gives Minneapolis up-close access to the best local and nationally touring comedians, many of who have appeared on The King of Queens, Showtime, Comedy Central's Premium Blend, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and Last Comic Standing. The laughs are many, while the comedic tone is classy and, unlike shows performed at nursing homes, refreshingly free of lazy vulgarity. Upcoming shows will feature the fearless humor of Dave Mordal, the host of Discovery Channel's Wreckreation Nation, and Dwayne Gill, a cop who moonlights as a stand-up comedian. Regardless of the show, guests will be sure to enjoy a night of jocular good times not involving Internet videos of dogs wearing sunglasses on surfboards.

Supplement the belly-jostling laughter with a belly-pleasing appetizer from Carbone's Pizza & Sports Bar. Maliciously contemplate why the chicken crossed the road while snacking on chicken strips, or similarly ponder why the potato crossed the road while eating potato skins, among other appetizer options. Check the calendar for full details before calling to reserve a seat.

Reviews

The Star Tribune highlighted the Burnsville MinneHAHA Comedy Club:

• The room was filled with residents of the southern suburbs, but the show also pulled people from "the cities," i.e. Minneapolis and St. Paul. The foursome tore the house down -- with people banging on tables and crying with laughter. Personally, my face hurt (from laughing). – Tom Horgen, Star Tribune