Why did chicken cross the road?
2007-07-13 15:16
Cape Town - Seven comedians from seven countries around the world have come together on one stage for the UN Comedy Show at Carnival City's Big Top Arena to showcase their talent.
The show, featuring Pauly Shore (USA), Angelo Tsarouchas (Canada), Charlie Pickering (Australia), Jason Wood (England), Rhod Gilbert (Wales), Rys Darby (New Zealand) and John Vlismas (South Africa), is running until Saturday night.
Three of the comedians, Pickering, Wood and Vlismas, took some time out from all the comic action to share their pearls of wisdom with News24 during a quick Q&A.
1) Where do you find inspiration for your comedy routines?
John Vlismas: The same place you get these questions. That old box under the bed.
Jason Wood: Using my eyes and my ears and my fingers - they tend to be my biggest inspiration,
looking listening and writing what I see.
Charlie Pickering: My biggest inspiration is my family. They are hilarious. I just finished touring a show about a ten-year practical joke war between my dad and his best mate. At one point it led to the evacuation of an entire suburb because we ruptured a gas main trying to cement a parking meter into his mate's driveway.
2) What do you do when nobody laughs at your gags?
Vlismas: I draw bad words on myself and dance under the full moon, screaming Ouma's recipes backwards.
Wood: Well when it happens I shall write and tell you...Turn violent!
Pickering: My heart literally stops. A little piece of me dies. If I manage to keep a presence of mind, I declare that I have made the transition from comedian to "spoken word performance artist".
3) What was your funniest moment on stage?
Vlismas: That time when a fat guy
called me stupid, because I could see he was actually trying to
smuggle a bungalow out of the club.
Wood: The last time I was in Cape Town, I jumped on a Grand Piano which proceeded to give
way, crash and cost me a lot of money to have repaired!
Pickering: I was once talking to a woman in the audience who said that she was a therapist. When I asked what kind of therapist, she said "relaxation therapist". You could hear a ripple of realisation travel through the crowd. When I explained that I had been feeling quite stressed lately and was curious to know how much relaxation I could get for $150, she said she would give me half an hour for free. I said, "Hey, you're a therapist.
Let's keep things professional."
4) Which nation do you think has got the best sense of humour?
Vlismas: Narnia.
Wood: British - we must do to live here with grey weather and moronic politics.
Pickering: In all truth, the Irish. I think they have been through a lot and come out without an ounce of bitterness. They still just love a drink, a story and a good laugh. That said, the people from African nations that I have met have all been remarkably cheerful and positive despite the challenges they face.
5) An Englishman, Irishman and Scotsman walk into a bar. How would you take this joke further?
Vlismas: Why can't they just have a drink? Why does everything have to be a joke with you people?
Pickering: An Englishman, Irishman and Scotsman walk into a bar. Inside they meet up with people from Australia, South Africa, Canada, China, Japan, Germany, France, Brazil, Cuba, America, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Namibia, Cuba and Mexico. They all look at each other, waiting for a punch line. After a long pause the Aussie says, "Sure, this could be funny. But wouldn't it be better if we all just got along?" And the horse says, "Sorry, I must be in the wrong bar."
6) What is the best joke you've ever heard?
Vlismas: Floccinaucinihilipilification is actually onomatopoeia. God, that gets me every time, hooh boy.
Pickering: A door-to-door salesman knocks on a door and is met by a three-year-old boy. He is wearing a nappy and lipstick. He's got a bottle of French Champaign in one hand and a Cuban cigar in the other. The salesman says, "hello there, young chap. Are your mummy and daddy home?" The kid looks at them and says, "what do you reckon?"
7) If you could be a cartoon character, who would you be, and why?
Vlismas: George W Bush or Road Runner. Not sure, just like them.
Wood: Jessica Rabbit
Pickering: Homer Simpson. He has a simple philosophy, constantly has wacky adventures and no matter how badly he screws up his family loves him. He is clearly living the dream.
8) Who is your favourite comedian?
Vlismas: Geoffrey Mendebah.
Wood: Les Dawson - a British institution
Pickering: I think it would have to be Peter Cook. He was one of the truly inspired geniuses that made comedy into what it is today. I also like Bill Hicks a lot. He was sort of a socially aware prophet who gained cult status after his death in the 90's. If I had to pick someone living today it would be Clive James. I don't know anyone with a sharper wit and higher standards.
9) And finally, why did the chicken cross the road?
Vlismas: In the vain hope that it would be hit by a bus and not be compelled to do an interview.
Pickering: Isn't it about time we just let people get on with their lives? I am sick and tired of hearing accusations that the chicken "crossed" the road. Isn't it about time the road took some responsibility for this? You say "road", I say "professional victim". Sadly I think this whole thing has been blown out of proportion and we will never hear the real story.