ComedyClub  Interviews with comedians Alyn Adams
Interviews, comedy, comedians, standup comedy, humour, humor, South Africa, stand-up comedians
What's the first funny thing you remember saying?
"Bless me, father, for I have sinned.."
What drove you to choose comedy, when you could have been a mechanic or a doctor or something decent like that?
Zen. I do comedy because I can.
What's your favourite fashion accessory?
FNB Statuscard.
How has the way you look affected your identity as a comic?
Of course, doffie. The way you look affects your identity anywhere, except at the home for blind quadriplegics.
Admin: Alyn, the question was "how".
Are there things you wouldn't say on stage? Eg, any words you'd never use or subjects you'd never tackle?
No. But there are certain material and certain language-registers that are appropriate to different audiences. "Cunt" is hardly ever appropriate. Except to narcs.
Who is your major influence? And your major South African influence?
Eddie Izzard. In SA, I'm influenced by everyone I see.
Is there any figure from your past that you'd like to see in your audience? What would you do to them or for them?
My ex-headmaster. I'd do the full Catholic education routine, followed by the absurdity of homophobia, ending with the drugs material. Then I'd identify the headmaster and remind the crowd I was Dux of his shithole.
What's lacking from South African comedy, or audiences, that it remains such a small scene?
I.Q. from both. And from audiences, the cultural background to fork out for live local entertainment what they'd pay for Hollywood pap.
Do you think all South Africans can all laugh at the same joke at the same time. What kind of joke would it be?
No. Jokes rely on a uniform, similar, or at least broadly understood cultural identity. Which we don't have - and may never have, because cultures don't compromise and merge, they conflict until one achieves supremacy. Physical comedy, however, should always be universally funny - except to the terminally P.C.
Do you ever steal jokes?
No, unless it's an old gag, authored by anonymous, that can be refreshed.
Would you sell your material?
No, but I do write material for specific performers - for a fee.
Which internationally renowned comic would you most like to work with? What would you do to him/her?
Eddie Izzard/Robin Williams/Billy Crystal. With any of them, I'd probably stand around in awe until they forced me to participate. Then I'd be fucking stunning.
What's the most embarrassing death you've ever seen another comic die on stage? (names not necessary) Describe the incident, and how you felt.
I don't watch other comics die - I'd rather wander around outside the venue till they're done.
Where would you like to live when you retire - if ever?
A self-sufficient hemp farm in the foothills of the KZN Drakensberg.
How funny do you Really think you are?
I'm the funniest fag in the country.
Will you matter 50 years after you're dead? Will it matter to you?
50 years after I'm dead, I'll be busy with another life and other challenges. What you do when you're alive is all that matters - and only while you're alive.
What's the interview question you'd most like to be asked, and what is the answer?
Q: Why did you and James decide to adopt?
A: Well, we've both always wanted kids, and when Christina Storm
finally proved infertile, the scales fell from his eyes and he called me.
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