A world of Chuckles

These three men may share the same nationality,the patronage of London Comedy Club and the same appetite for humour,but they couldn't be more different.

These three men may share the same nationality,the patronage of London Comedy Club and the same appetite for humour,but they couldn’t be more different. Rob Deering liberally dips into his musical repetoire to aid his jokes,Roger Monkhouse seeks out active audience participation when he is performing,while Andre Vincent had been a comedian on television and radio,and no one can escape that nostalgia come through in his live-stand-ups. On Wednesday,after a tiringly circuitous travel upto Pune,this troika let the varying branches of rib-ticklers coincide on one stage. And,yes,the audience was very amused.

“As a comedian,I believe that a show should be an all-round experience,which is where my musical talents come in. I cannot contemplate a show without an impromptu song!” Deering explains his take on all things funny. “I’m also a born show-off,and I like to boast of my skills. Believe me,if I could juggle,I would do that too in my shows,” he guffaws.

While Vincent values his prior experience too deeply to sever it from his current passion,he acknowledges the difference in the mediums he has been handling. “While on television,one has a very small window,lasting maybe 10 or 20 minutes. Being on television made me realise how important it is for every joke to garner a reaction from the audience.” He shudders when he remembers his time as a radio comedian. “The biggest problem with radio is that you have to be funny with just your voice. The audience can’t see you,so any facial expressions or hand gestures you add on to your act are useless.”

For Monkhouse,the power of the person on stage is the critical factor in a comic show. “You should have the audience eating out of your hand,” he smiles. Others describe him as a stand-up who employs a deadly combination of charm and menace to exert a masterful control over an audience.

As for the state of comedy in India,Deering says,”From whatever little I have seen of Indian comedy,it is still in its nascent stages,but is growing fast.” Vincent adds,”Indian comedians seem to go straight for the jugular. I love that,because it means,we have progressed into becoming a world of chuckles.”

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