ComedyClub  Interviews with comedians Neil
Interviews, comedy, comedians, standup comedy, humour, humor, South Africa, stand-up comedians
What's the first funny thing you remember saying?
I don't remember saying anything funny at an early age, although I do
remember saying solemn things quite seriously and contending with peals and
peals in response.
What drove you to choose comedy, when you could have been a mechanic or a doctor or something decent like that?
I am something decent like that on the side (but only at night if the
weather's warm and unrainy). I drew cartoons when I was very young, and I
never have anything sensible to say in a conversation so I opt for inanities
when mature response is required (if you don't believe me, please see my
answers to the ComedyClub interview).
What's your favourite fashion accessory?
A t-shirt pocket. As a teenager I liked the idea that I could have something
to keep my calculator in (just in case...) I've recently taken to
brandishing a PalmPilot which is an excellent device for remembering quips
with (Mark-the-Samp recons that most of his best material has been lost to
leaky memory).
How has the way you look affected your identity as a comic?
Surprisingly I haven't scored as much free sex as I'd anticipated (those
interested can post their star signs to my email). For the last ten years or
so I've struggled to animate my face, and I never danced well, so that
helps. But still... I deserve to get laid one day soon.
Are there things you wouldn't say on stage? Eg, any words you'd never use or subjects you'd never tackle?
You mean like the fuck-word? I couldn't tackle Jonah Lomu, or a 5-week-old
goat (just KIDding). I don't do jokes about rape. I find gender/race cards
rather tired, and I fuck'n hate the "so where are you from...Aha...
Amsterdam!" genre of audience participation.
Who is your major influence?
The closest I come to major influence is that I regret the day that Steve
Wright was born and even more so the lazy afternoon when he had the idea
before me? And your major South African influence?
Isn't Steve Wright South African? Just kidding, I knew he was Japanese.
I dunno about South Africa - I've only been here 28 years, so it's just
starting to grow on me.
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?
Easy Chris! My personal life isn't THAT colorful.
comedyclub: Chris didn't ask these questions.
What's lacking from South African comedy, or audiences, that it remains such a small scene?
Me!Or audiences, that it remains such a small scene?
It's hard when you have 11 languages, and when there's not a strong literary
culture. In the past I've raved about how we undercount the abundance of
comedy in the country because we recognise only the Seinfeld genre, and fail
to acknowledge the oral narratives that are funny and a ubiquitous part of
life here (e.g. Karoo/Kalahari storytelling).
Do you think all South Africans can all laugh at the same joke at the same time? It's easier to herd cats, or wring a binding consensus from economists or
get teen punks to put the same make of thumb-tac on exactly the same spot on
the same nostril. What kind of joke would it be? No need to ask, it will be emailed you by people you've never even heard of.
Do you ever steal jokes?
I think recycling jokes sucks. Have you no pride?!
Would you sell your material?
Ya, I've heard it all before.
Would you promise never to use them on stage again after the sale?
Hey... Do you know an agent? There's a fair price for everything. I've only
got six months worth of material anyway so it's not a tall order to replace
that.
Which internationally renowned comic would you most like to work with? For the last 12 years I've very dearly wanted to have sex with Tracey
Uhlman. You may regard this as work (she gets a bit much) but it's the sort
of toil worth getting (it) up for in the morning. What would you do to him/her? Uhmmm...
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've only really been to the armchair, where everyone is too benevolent to
really kill a comic.
Where would you like to live when you retire - if ever?
At home.
How funny do you Really think you are?
Not enough (see the allusions to my sexual successes dotted above).
Will you matter 50 years after you're dead? Not at this rate of insignificance. The world is growing so much faster and there's so much greater possibility of maintaining contact with the living, that the dead as a category will be derated somewhat. Will it matter to you? I'll be dead, remember?
What's the interview question you'd most like to be asked, and what is the answer?
Q: So what's the easiest way to bed you.
A: If only I knew!
|
