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	CHRIS ROCK Working comedian

Chris Rock became a stand-up superstar by holding a stage hostage, by daring audiences not to pay attention, strutting around arrogantly, and slamming his microphone to the ground on his way off. A week ago Tuesday at the Comedy Connection, superstar Rock was replaced by working-comedian Rock: his tone was more conversational than the confrontational stance he brings to his HBO specials Bigger and Blacker and Bring the Pain. But he didn’t need half the attitude of his normal shows to sell his material. Even his low-key material drew blood.

Playing the Connection for the third time in three months, he was comfortable on the stage. He came out beaming after opener Joe Vega, joking with the crowd about the Sox’ game-five victory over Oakland the night before: "Don’t you wish the season ended yesterday?" After a booming laugh, he said, almost to himself, "I haven’t done stand-up in a long fucking time," but if he was rusty, it rarely showed. He riffed through mostly smart, on-target material that touched on both personal issues and current events. He hit Kobe Bryant’s trial, quipped about his own role as a father, and addressed political issues like the war in Iraq, drug prohibition, and affirmative action. With the votes still being counted in California’s recall election, he expressed amazement at Arnold Schwarzenegger’s successful campaign. "What kind of stupid shit is that?" he said, questioning the Terminator’s intelligence. "He’s not even smart enough to play a smart person in a movie." He drew cheers for his material on Iraq: "If they were so dangerous, how come it only took two weeks to take over the whole country? You couldn’t take over Roxbury in two damn weeks."

As if often the case with Rock, he wasn’t shy about playing the race card. "There are no wealthy brown people in America," he said, making a distinction between "rich" and "wealthy." "Shaq is rich. The white man that signs his checks is wealthy." Someone in the crowd yelled out "Oprah"; Rock, leaning in the direction of the shout and focusing his unblinking gaze, replied, "If Bill Gates woke up tomorrow with Oprah’s money, he’d slit his throat."

Despite a persistent heckler and a well-meaning fan who interrupted the show to ask for a photograph, Rock thrived in the intimate atmosphere. If Boston comedy fans are lucky, he’ll keep his promise to Connection owner Bill Blumenreich to come back and play the club every year.