It's said that laughter is the best medicine for the soul — especially in dire economic times.

Enter comedian Augie T. He has the perfect rx — an engaging new DVD called "Augie T.: The Blaisdell Arena Show."

It shows Augie doing what Augie does best: jesting his way through relationships, revisiting childhood memories, delving in-to ethnic accents that folks can relate to.

Talk about a stressbuster! He's a silver lining in the current cloud of doubt and uncertainty.

With 7,000 in attendance, the arena gig, with in-the-round staging, is appropriate for the one-time boxer, who first appears with a boxer's robe over his all-white attire. You'll spot Colt Brennan, Lt. Gov. "Duke" Aiona and Mayor Mufi Hannemann laughing up a storm with the rest of the crowd.

The DVD also packs two bonus videos —a one-hour "Augie Show" TV special and a segment dubbed "Augie T. Goes to Prison — the Captive Tour," a performance taped inside Halawa prison, the Hawai'i Youth Correctional Facility and the Women's Correctional Facility.

"At Halawa, we did two shows in the gym — but no hana hou; they had to go back to jail," Augie joked. "But I did see many of my (Farrington) classmates there."