Hi there Dear Viewers - am having a great time on 'Project X'.
One of the joys of the gig is working with a variety of comedians who are doing strong work. The 'Project X' marketing people forbid me at this time going into more detail, (I have to do what they say - I signed a piece of paper saying I'd behave), it's a few weeks yet before I can provide links and real information about the show, but I'll mention that if you're in London on the 8th of July you could do a lot worse than go to the Electric Mouse Comedy Club, King's Head Pub, Islington.
It features 2 comedians who I've just worked with on 'X': Katy Bagshaw and Wendy Wason, (warning: MySpace links). Katy transformed herself into 'Doris', an older lady who's concerned about all the "muslin's" coming into Britain and I guarantee - guarantee I tell you - that you'll laugh.
Wendy Wason deeply disturbed me - which I found unusual as I prefer my comedy to be dark - but her combination of placid middle-class features and bearing combined with a comedic vision of a loveless earth where everyone is out for themselves left me unsettled.
Looking back at that last sentence - you might think it doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement for a night's entertainment - but you'd be wrong.
We need comedy - and this kind of comedy - now more than ever. We're living in a world where - post cold-war - there's no 'other side' that keeps our politicians honest - we're living in a system where it can feel like there's no-way you can defect - subsequently, people in power know the masses feel helpless and are grabbing as much as they can as quickly as they can. Traditional media has failed completely - leaving it to the comedians - to address in a multiplicity of forms what's going on - to tell the truth.
It's no coincidence that the rise of the Daily Show mirrors the decline of the traditional media in the States and it feels like we need to return to the old days - when, for instance in ancient Ireland, Satirists were seen to have real power - they were recognised to be able to cause boils to erupt on those they satirised for example.
My point is we need the darkness, AKA the truth, told in whatever way it can. If it makes us laugh all the better - for of course by making us laugh comedy draws us in, makes us complicit and creates the space for telling the truth. I truly think it's the Noblest Profession.
Anyhew, that's enough ranting for now Dear Viewer. Go see the show if you're in London. You'll have a good time. And no boils.
(Photo above, Katy Bagshaw / Reproduced below for your edification and enlightenment is a flyer for the Evening / Click here for Google Map location of the King's Head)
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