Seven Questions With

Seven Questions With… Iliza Shlesinger

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© Robyn Van Swank

Iliza Shlesinger is an American stand up comedian who is making her UK debut this month as she brings her show Freezing Hot to the Soho Theatre. Shlesinger is a sharp and powerful force in the world of stand up comedy, particularly as a result of her damning observations regarding gender stereotypes and admirable onstage fearlessness, ensuring that she will make waves on the British comedy scene.
I asked Iliza these seven questions…

1) What inspired Freezing Hot?

I was extremely motivated to put out a sophomore comedy special that blew the first one, War Paint, out of the water. I wanted Freezing Hot to serve as not just a piece where I made observations, but where I took those observations and dove deeper, offering explanations for behaviours, not just making fun of them. I really wanted to offer some insight to the way girls think and feel, I wanted to make some statements and be mindful and, dare I say, even intelligent about what I was saying. So many comics, male and female, go for shock or think just by being crass then that’s enough, but there’s not love behind the jokes, no personalisation. Every scenario I talked about I lived through, physically or in my own head, the thoughts are all uniquely my own- I love Party Goblin and I wanted to share her with the world. My inspiration was just to share in the most authentic way possible and expose my brain, heart and soul to the masses… and also a little bit of side boob.

2) What motivates you to work hard?

The fear of failure. Not by anyone’s measure other than my own. I just want to be heard on the biggest stage possible, whatever that ends up being. The fear of going unheard or unexpressed saddens me. I’m not good at much- math, sports, decorating- but I am good at being funny and I think to waste the talent I have by settling for anything less than I know I’m capable of would be a shame. This rule should apply to anyone; unfortunately, most people are feckless and convince themselves that their goals aren’t worth the effort. Also, somewhere weird in my head, I think if I make enough money I can turn my long haired dachshund into a tiny hair covered person and I can send her to private school.

3) Have you met your comedy idol?

I have a few, some I’ve met, some I haven’t. I was going to do a deal with Will Ferrell’s company, I would have met him, he is amazing. I saw Adam Sandler from across The Comedy Store once, and I teared up. I love Billy Crystal- I’m sure meeting him is in my future, I tweet him enough. I sat at a table next to Tina Fey at an AFI event… So that’s something. I’ll never get to meet Chris Farley, sadly. I’ve met others who I looked up to as a kid but… a lot of comedy stars burn bright and in person aren’t that funny, which is sad. I often wonder if it’s better to never meet your idols. Also my dad is hilarious, I’ve met him a few times.

4) Do you have any nicknames?

In high school we did a play and my character was named Bernice. So like, 3 people in the world call me Bernice. Aside from that, my close friends all call me Mew and I call them Mew, it’s a term of endearment. Oh, sometimes random dudes will call me “super hot” but that’s less of a pet name and more of a superlative… Also ridiculous.

5) Do you enjoy musicals?

Yeah, I guess I do? Always loved Guys and Dolls… Am I missing something with this question?

6) Who is the most inspiring person you know?

I’m supposed to say my mom, right? Isn’t that what everyone says? I don’t get inspired by people, I get inspired by situations and potential outcomes. That being said, my cousin has Cystic Fibrosis and I’ve always enjoyed watching how much she loves life and lives hers, seemingly, unfettered by her illness. Watching someone who has been dealt an unfair hand be happy is always inspiring.

7) What is your biggest complaint about modern life?

© Robyn Van Swank

Oh God, where do I start. Too many people have access to broadcasting tools- every idiot who was ever told they did a good job thinks they should be famous and they have a podcast or a web show- it saturates the market, there should be a comedic aptitude test you have to take before you’re allowed to make an account for anything from Twitter to Youtube to Periscope. We should have a boot camp that breaks people down to see how much they really want it, then again, I guess that’s sort of what Hollywood does. I hate passwords. I think it’s insane that I should have to remember so many AND if and when I do forget, I’m never able to simply “find out” your password, no, I have to reset it. I can never use old familiar passwords so all of a sudden I find myself straying into weird parts of my brain in an exasperated effort to create a new password that first the security criteria like PANCETTAcatFART##1492 and that’s insane to remember because those words mean nothing to me, on a personal note. Can we please hurry up and have retinal scans on our phones already?

ILIZA SHLESINGER BRINGS HER SHOW ‘FREEZING HOT’ TO THE SOHO THEATRE FROM 17-29TH AUGUST

Seven Questions With… Ari Shaffir

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Dude! I love it. All I look forward to in the summer is getting mushrooms and going to Joshua Tree. Or getting mushrooms and going to Sequoia National Park. Or getting mushrooms and walking around the city, but I guess that’s not really the great outdoors. The point is, yes, I love being in nature. People and their creations are overwhelming. I like being away from as many of them as possible. When I leave comedy, it’ll either be to commit suicide or to get on a boat and just sail out until I never see anyone again.

2) Which comedians are you influenced by?Screen Shot 2015-08-02 at 20.51.19

Burr, Bobby Lee, Kinison, Brody Stevens, some dead guys, the Simpsons, Joey Diaz. I guess I’m influenced by almost every comedian I’ve seen. I like seeing different techniques, different paths to get at a problem, different styles. I can take from anything. I like arm movements and pauses. If I see somebody nailing it with a technique I’ve never used, of course that’s gonna influence the way I go at ideas.

3) Books or e-books?

Books. But probably neither. I’ve read like, 3 books in the last 15 years. I read a shitload all through university, but then I stopped cold as soon as I got out. E-books seem like a great way to have your book with you, but it seems lame for some reason. It’s probably not justified. I have the same problem with dating websites. I remember the time when online dating was for losers and mutants. But that time is done. And yet, I’m still stuck thinking it’s a problem. I gotta get over my younger self.

4) How would your friends describe you?

They’d describe me as a fun dick maybe. I don’t know. I don’t even want to think about this. I don’t know how they’d describe me. They’re my friends. They’re idiots. They’d probably describe me as tall and bearded. 

5) Is your stage persona the same as your own personality?

My stage persona is almost identical to my personality. The only difference might be that I feel freer sharing embarrassing details in front of a crowd than I do in front of a couple people. But I’m coming to things from the same place on stage or off.

6) Do you ever feel like you’re too honest?

I feel like I’m very honest compared to most people. For sure. But, no. I don’t feel too honest. It’s gotten me in trouble before. Plenty of times. But I still don’t think I’m too honest. I rather think most other people are not honest enough. If everyone was open about who they are, we wouldn’t really be judging each other so harshly. Just be who you are and don’t worry about what people are going to say. They don’t matter. So that’s what I do usually.

7) What are you waiting for?

I’m waiting for this new special to be done so I can stop touring for a while. I’m waiting for the US revolution to start moving a little faster, I’m waiting for South Park to come back on. I’m waiting for a hot girl who’s also genuinely interesting and not self-absorbed. The revolution should be here first.

ARI SHAFFIR BRINGS ‘THIS IS NOT HAPPENING’ TO THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

Seven Questions With… Stuart Laws

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stuartlawsStuart Laws is a stand up comedian currently embarking on his third solo hour, entitled Who Said Anything About Stopping It?, at this year’s Edinburgh Festival. Having supported James Acaster on his UK tour throughout 2013 and 2014 as well as having directed multiple films and worked with big names such as Julia Davis and Robert Lindsay, Laws really is an interesting artist, who’s name, I’m sure, will soon be hard to ignore.
To learn more about Stuart, I asked him these seven questions…

1) Are you easily pleased?

What a great question! Thank you so much for asking it, incredibly kind of you.

2) Are you any good at doing accents?

Oh aye, absolutely I am (Scottish). To be sure, to be sure (Welsh). What a lovely potato (Cockney). Yum, yum, I love onions and baguettes and garlic (My Mum). Pop a couple of chimps on Bar-B. (Australian animal themed pub owner). Guten tag, wie geht’s dir? Ich habe eine grosse meerschweinchen mit Mayo (Bermudan who learnt German).

3) Do you ever feel like time moves too fast?

Terminator was released in 1984. So was I. There have been four sequels to the Terminator and none to me. So I think what I mean is: yes, but I manage to not fall into molten metal, so perhaps I move slowly through time.

4) Do you envy any other comedians?

I’ve ended up wearing a gilet on stage, as standard now. I’m envious of anyone who gets to wear an item of clothing that isn’t designed to keep them extremely warm. Envious of Sean McLoughlin because he has the courage to say that he hates Studio 60 on The Sunset Strip. Otherwise, no, not really, just really admire a lot of them for being really great at what they do: Acaster, Helm, Kemsley, Sanders, Wang, Pacquola, Long, Hodgson, Kearns, Cahill, Stephenson, Daykins.

5) What is your favourite item of clothing?

Invest in socks. If you have the option of a luxury purchase then prioritise new socks. Makes a huge difference.

6) Who is your favourite serial killer?

David Griffin (Keanu Reeves in The Watcher). Keanu didn’t want to do the film but was forced to after a friend forged his signature on the contract. So that makes David Griffin the most unwilling and weak-willed serial killer in history. To be that unskilled and to still qualify is pretty impressive.

7) Is comedy that offends people important?

Yeah, probably. From the point of view that never will the world achieve harmony of opinion so offence means that someone had the freedom to express a thought deemed repulsive. And really, thinking about it: freedom is more important than harmony of opinion. But it would be nice if less people had really shit opinions, but banning and marginalising those opinions won’t create less shit opinions. For example: people who like Lost In Translation. I won’t ban them, but I won’t trust them. Did I answer the question? I think my position on offensive comedy is most probably summed up in my choice of serial killer.

STUART LAWS WILL BE PERFORMING HIS LATEST SHOW ‘WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT STOPPING IT?’ AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FROM 8TH-15TH AUGUST

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

Seven Questions With… Michael J. Dolan

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Seven Questions With… Tony Law

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© Storm Davison

Tony Law is an absurd comedian to say the least, bettering himself with each passing year and crafting majestical shows which in the past have included musical numbers, finger lasers and puppet displays. The shouty surrealist is bringing his latest hour of nonsense Frillemorphesis to the Edinburgh Festival and it looks set to be another brash, bizarre yet beautiful assault of the senses.
I asked Tony these seven questions to learn more about the man behind the madness…

1) Why is your comedy so strange?

It’s not my comedy. It belongs to the earth. And I’d hesitate to call it comedy. Normal to some?

2) Which instrument do you wish you could play?

The flesh tuba. I’ve never learnt to masturbate. It’s high time. And piano. Be a great help the piano. Could fill my shows up with less words.

3) What bores you most?

Myself. Listening to me droning on about tree houses and cylinders all time. No one wants that.  

4) Where is your safe place?

Culverts. P47 thunderbolts. My family. Training with master Cho.

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© Storm Davison

5) If you were to write a book, what would the subject be?

Walking through landscapes and whistling new songs that are gone for ever on the wind. Just about that sorta thing.

6) How do you clear your head?

I’m afraid that’s rather easy, I just breath through my mouth and away I go. Really rather ……

7) What do you want your legacy as a comedian to be?

Hardest working man in show business. Loads of money to pay all these bills I forgot about. So then I could concentrate on whatever it is that I do on floors.

TONY LAW IS BRINGING HIS SHOW ‘FRILLEMORPHESIS’ TO THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

Seven Questions With… Adrienne Truscott

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one-trick pony!Adrienne Truscott is bold; her comedy is exciting, fresh and uncompromising. Truscott is a prime example of a comedian who takes the art form by the throat, reshaping it in her own unique way to enable serious topics to become accessible and taboo subjects to become public domain. Her latest show Adrienne Truscott’s A One-Trick Pony! (which she’ll be performing at the Edinburgh Festival) is set to be high-octane, political and absurd, so surely it’s an occasion not to be missed.
To learn more about the woman behind the show, I asked Adrienne these seven questions…

1) What is the most important aspect of comedy?

Brains, timing, vulnerability and an absence of dignity. By all accounts, a fucked up childhood doesn’t hurt. Um, that’s five aspects. Apparently being good at ‘maths’ isn’t a comedic requirement.

2) Do you tend to get upset if you hurt someone’s feelings?

Yes I do. And I can lean towards an acerbic sense of humour, so sometimes I think things come out of my mouth faster than I mean for them to. I think usually however, my sense of humour is, at least, triggered by or at the expense of the powerful – which makes the target somewhat susceptible. as opposed to the powerless, as well as by hypocrisy – including my own. I’ve been the target of my own jokes a few times and really hurt my own feelings.

3) What is your favourite tourist attraction?

Any waterfall or cave anywhere in the world. I love those things and ideally those two things together. That said, as an American, a castle sort of does my head in. The USA post-revolution is so young, our sense of history can be pretty brief and self-serving over there – we don’t have castles, only mansions. The Edinburgh Castle is truly one of the most mind-blowing castles of all time. And I swear on a beheaded queen I’m not just saying that because it’s Ed Fringe. Over in the US, we conveniently exclude ourselves from the notion of more barbaric times, dungeons, plagues, etc. and even though it could be wrongly romanticized, an actual castle inspires a pretty boundless sense of adventure and imagination for this gal. In that way, the midnight tours of the underground city with some bourbon is sort of an amazing combination of castle and cave.

4) What is the worst thing anyone could say to you right now?

‘Did you vote for President Trump?! High Five.’  Both Trump and high fives make me uncomfortable in equal measure.

5) Are you a secretive person?

Oh God no. I spill the beans about myself too easily I think. Too many good stories. But I’m good with other peoples’ secrets. I have one person’s secret that I’ve still never told – even though revealing it would have dug me out of a deep hole and served as my defence in a delicate matter. But it didn’t seem like my secret to tell, even though I took a bit of a hit for something that wasn’t really my fault. Alas, it was worth it. But some secrets are good to tell and it depends on who is the keeper of the secrets. For instance, I think it’s great for artists to talk to one another about their deals, etc. and not keep them secret. I don’t think, in that instance, secrets do the right people the right service.

6) Do you enjoy competition in your profession?

I think I can be pretty competitive. I was a jock for a lot of my life. But I think I’m mostly competitive if there is a ball involved. Not a ball like a fancy dance, and not a testicle – when those are involved I say everyone have at it! I mean just a round ball, that’s in play. I’ll wanna get it.

7) What core message does your latest show convey?

Hmmm, that definitions and categories about comedy and types are irrelevant… which might not be as fun as these other messages: that irony is ironic, that pancakes are delicious, vaginas are hilarious, hookers are nice and I’m the toughest wrestler in town. Or that the late, great, legendary Andy Kaufman was a feminist performance artist. Or, that the best comedians steal. Take your pick.

ADRIENNE TRUSCOTT IS BRINGING HER SHOW ‘ADRIENNE TRUSCOTT’S A ONE-TRICK PONY’ TO THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL NEXT MONTH

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

Seven Questions With… Carl Hutchinson

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Carl Hutchinson is a charming stand up comedian who has in the past been described as “uniquely stubborn, outright impractical and undeniably hilarious,” and having previously supported fellow Northern comic Chris Ramsey on tour, his name is becoming an ever more popular one. Carl is currently adding the finishing touches to his latest show Learning The Ropes, which he will perform at this year’s Edinburgh Festival.
To learn a little more, I asked Carl these seven questions…

Carl Hutchinson© Ashley Maile1) Would Britain benefit from having a siesta?

I certainly would, when I was a teacher I always said if I could start at 10 I’d be much more productive, poor kids.

2) Are you a responsible adult?

Yes, I wash dishes and everything.

3) How nervous were you before your first gig?

Very!

4) Would you say you’re obsessive?

No, I mean Yes, wait No, Yes? I don’t know, let me count to 107 and I’ll let you know then.

5) Which sport shouldn’t exist?

Snooker, televised Snooker.

6) Do you want to stand out or fit in?

It really depends on the situation.

7) Why is comedy important to you?

It was my entertainment as a child, my escape when I was an adolescent & my living as an adult. It’s always been my passion.

CARL HUTCHINSON IS BRINGING HIS SHOW ‘LEARNING THE ROPES’ TO THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL IN AUGUST.

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

Seven Questions With… Thünderbards

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The comedy double-act Thünderbards is made up of comics Glenn Moore and Matt Stevens and has been described as “without question one of the funniest sketch shows on the Fringe” by GQ. With clever word play and punchy sketches and anecdotes, Moore and Stevens have an admirable energy on stage, which never seems to waver. They will be bringing their third hour of comedy, a show named Chapter III, to this year’s Edinburgh Festival.
I asked Thünderbards these seven questions in order to learn a little more about the duo…

1) What annoys you most about performing as a part of a double act?

GM: Having to split our earnings after each gig. I just feel that if we were going at it alone, we’d be filthy rich by now, and it becomes increasingly frustrating going home with up to £2.50 each after a gig, when I know that it would have been such a game-changer having that fiver all to myself.

MS: Performing with Glenn is great, I feel really comfortable on stage with someone who I have performed with for years and who I know is instinctively funny. His punctuality is a nightmare though, he’s late for everything.

2) Do you ever worry that people won’t like you as a person?

GM: This is literally the only thing I think about.

MS: Always. Everything I do on stage is a character of some sort, even when I’m nominally playing myself between scenes. I’d hate the idea of really exposing the true me on stage to a room of strangers in case they hated the show. That would feel like a judgement on me as a person. I love a lot of really personal, confessional comedy, but I think people who do it really well, like Simon Amstell for example, pay a price of insecurity for giving themselves over to an audience to be judged as a person.

3) What makes you feel safe?

GM: In terms of comedy gigs, any sign of friends, family or returning audience members watching it. Outside of comedy, any form of public transport that isn’t the night-bus, and any TV show starring Martin Clunes.

MS: On stage? Tried and tested material and/or our own audience (ie. not a club or mixed bill night). In life, I’d say that my girlfriend makes me feel safe, in that if she is calm and not worried about an issue, I tend to be too.

4) What do you really not care about?

GM: Any TV show that doesn’t star Martin Clunes.

MS: Fashion vloggers. There’s nothing that any one of them could say or do that would make me even feign interest.

5) What part of your childhood do you refuse to let go of?

GM: Ren and Stimpy, Angel Delight, and Key Stage 3 exams (year after year, I insist on signing up to them).

MS: Haribo.

6) Is it hard to maintain your energy on stage?

GM: It’s not hard maintaining it onstage, but it’s unpleasant to deal with offstage. I don’t tend to realise I’m getting exhausted during a show, but I do sweat an awful amount throughout each one, and at the Edinburgh Fringe tend to get through more than one t-shirt per show. It’s so awful.

MS: I find that on stage energy is quite closely tied to how the audience are responding. If a show is going well, then it tends to get better as it goes along as I throw more and more into it. My weakness is allowing a bad show to change how I perform and drop my energy and commitment.

7) Why did it happen? (interpret as you wish)

GM: Because we needed to make the former third member of Thünderbards realise that he made a serious career error by leaving the group. Saying that, if we’re looking at this in terms of the Hindenburg disaster, we have to take into account the frailties of blimp technology at the time, and whether the pilots were fully equipped to deal with any overheating of machine parts.

MS: I’ll interpret that as being why did doing Thünderbards at the Fringe for a third year running happen? Well, I still see it as a university housemate joke that has got way out of hand. If I were to interpret the question as why did it happen in relation to the Hindenburg disaster, I’d say that it was probably because of the pure-hydrogen environment in the blimp and an overheating machine part.

THÜNDERBARDS WILL BE PERFORMING THEIR STAND UP SKETCH SHOW ‘CHAPTER III’ AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL IN AUGUST.

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

Seven Questions With… Matt Winning

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Matt Winning is a very interesting Scottish stand up comic who incorporates one-liner jokes with surreal concepts and witty observations. He is a co-creator of the Bearpit Podcast Podcast and also regularly performs character-improvisations at shows in London and Glasgow. Matt brings his debut solo hour Mugabe and Me (3D) to the Edinburgh Festival next month.
To find out more about Matt, I asked him these seven questions…

1) Do you like Winning?

I once read about a father who, as an experiment, named his two sons Winner and Loser. Winner ended up being a criminal and a waste of space while Lou (Loser) rose to a prominent position in the New York police force and everybody liked him. Therefore I am destined to be a failure.

Also, I do not like Charlie Sheen. He has ruined my good name. I did in Hot Shots but not anymore.

2) What is the value of one-liner jokes to you?

I like one-liners. I try to expand on the concept of them a bit further and write set-pieces and routines based around their concept. On their own they can sometimes be quite concisely beautiful but most people just leave it there. I drag their premise out until people beg me to stop.

3) How long would it take for you to go crazy if you were alone on a desert island?

Well I am quite good friends with the son of the guy who played Wilson in Castaway. He is half-volleyball, half-Welsh. Don’t see him so much anymore as we fell out over a girl. Anyway, I think I’d be well equipped as I spent the majority of my childhood being friends with sports equipment.

4) What makes time pass more quickly for you?

Daylight savings time.

5) What is your pre-show routine?

I like to tie my shoe-laces as many times as possible. I may start just wearing socks on stage to change it up. I’ll do a couple of stretches and lunges if nobody is watching. Probably go to the toilet about 8 times. And 9 holes of crazy golf.

6) Should humans be the dominant species?

It is a shame that we are. I’m not sure though that it would be a much better world if we weren’t. I guess tigers or something would probably be the dominant species, and while there would be considerably less pollution there would be a lot more deer killings and no courts or doughnuts. I’d personally enjoy living in a world where the olden day horses are the dominant species. You know, the ones that are still in black and white. Zebras. I like those guys.

7) Whose approval do you seek?

My father’s.

MATT WINNING WILL PERFORM HIS SHOW ‘MUGABE AND ME (3D)’ AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FROM 8TH-29TH AUGUST

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

Seven Questions With… Harry Enfield

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One half of infamous sketch duo Harry and Paul, Harry Enfield has been satirising popular culture for decades. His cheeky charm and uncanny impersonations have made him a firm family favourite, and that doesn’t look set to change any time soon. Enfield, along with fellow comic Paul Whitehouse, recently announced his first ever tour for Autumn 2015, off the back of their successes with Harry and Paul’s Story of the 2s last year, which won multiple awards including two Royal Television Society awards.
To learn more about this comedy legend, I asked him these seven questions…

1) What is your favourite thing about being in a double act?

My favourite part of being in a double act is making Paul Whitehouse laugh. He has the most infectious laugh I have ever heard. Usually I make him laugh about things that are so bad we could never dream of doing them on telly. They are just for us. Sometimes I think we are truly evil people.

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© Harry and Paul

2) Are you a healthy eater?

I am not a particularly healthy eater. I tried to eat lettuce and crap but I don’t really like it. So I have to go to the gym a lot to try and get rid of all the pies and chips and pizzas and chocolates and rats.

3) Are you any good with technology?

Technology is great in terms of computers that correct your spelling and stuff. Email is annoying Twitter is bollocks Facebook is a recipe for time wasting. Ditto Instagram. My kids do all this but I do not have it except the email which I hate.

4) Are you a cool dad?

I am about the least cool dad there is. I am obsessed by things being tidy and as I have three teenage children this is a source of enormous irritation for them. They hate me.

5) How did you begin your comedy career?

I began in comedy when I was at university over 33 years ago. There were not many comedians around then, so I was lucky to get a television break purely by being a comedian. It’s much harder these days as there are loads more, and they are much funnier than we were.

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6) If you were an animal, what would you be?

I think I’d be a duck. They’re pretty chilled out, and it’s easy to get away from predators simply by sitting on a lake. As long as the lake doesn’t have some weird Jurassic monster in it with a taste for ducks.

7) Are you religious?

Yes. I believe in Tarvuism.

Look it up on the Internet and you will see it is the one true religion. My daughter is actually a High Priestmunty of Tarvuism. To all Tarvuists out there I say “Hebbo”.

TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR HARRY AND PAUL’S ‘LEGENDS!’ TOUR

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