Colin Cayer's Take: Kung Fu Komedy

By Colin Cayer

Arts & Culture

Ah, another smoky bar on the Bund. This time it’s Brix Shanghai Pub. They’ve got a drink special. For 100RMB you can have and share (if you’re into that) four beers chilling in a bucket of icy goodness. On stage, the lighting guy plays with the pink and blue and green. A man, the drummer of the act to follow, with a very rock-n-roll haircut sits at the drum kit in a red t-shirt. Another man this one with an Australian accent tests the mic. A few people in the front appear to have heard a joke of some kind, but they haven’t quite gotten the sound right for those lurking at the back and main bar. Get the beer special. A delicious and certainly genuine draft of Guinness will set you back upwards of 50RMB. It’s worth every upward penny.

“Alright everybody. Welcome to Brix and a big thanks for letting Kung Fu Komedy take over the stage. What a beautiful venue! We’ll be getting started in about ten minutes so enjoy the drink special and we’ll get going shortly,” the Australian fellow informs.

Kung Fu Komedy is set to take the stage and perform for a well-attended house. Comedians for the night are: Andy (Australia), William (USA), Turner (USA), Joe (USA) and Morten (Denmark). The group is dispersed throughout the room, but near the back there is a high-top table they return to from time to time. Upon it are a pack of cigarettes and a bucket of the aforementioned beer. Around it stand some rather reflective, rather large, and rather strapping men. These are the titans of Shanghai’s Comedy scene. True, they don’t have much competition but competition does not a titan make.

The show begins with Andy: comedian, mic tester, at times MC, later revealed as organizer of the Komedians and improver. Drew (USA) is our MC/comedian and has warmed up the house when Andy takes the stage in slot number one. Who knew Shanghai did comedy?

The sets are great. Andy takes us through a roommate’s misuse of the power of a pause. Will’s restaurant-inspired rating system for prostitutes is not only hilarious, it’s also useful. Drew speaks of a time before the McDonald’s pointy menu; a sad and embarrassing time. Joe just ran back from a weight loss competition, and lent his movie trailer voice skills to potential movies about our favorite cereals. Morten exposes the dubious world of investment, Chinese-style. All in all, we’re laughing and you will be too. A few days after the show I had a chance to chat with Andy and Joe, and asked them a bit more about their comedy and the group:

First up, once again, is the group’s creator and organizer, Andy Curtain, who joins us on his walk home from his slightly less interesting job in finance.

Colin: When and how did this all get started?

Andy: About eight to ten months ago. Audrey, Joe and I did improv together with a group called the People’s Republic of China and Kungfu Komedy is an offshoot.

Colin:You mentioned something about it being serious. Comedy is serious?

Andy:You’ve got to know your material back to front. When you’re up there you’re in a bubble. You’re aware of the crowd and you’re using jokes you want them to love because you wrote them down and you love them. It’s not serious…exactly.

Colin: How important is Drew (MC)?

Andy: It just doesn’t work if you introduce yourself. Just like I introduced Drew for his set, he introduces us. He gets the audience's attention and brings them in.

Colin: Tell me about the open mic.

Andy: Do stand up once in your life. We have an open mic at Beedee’s where we test our jokes and anyone can get up there. Sometimes we’re the only ones up there and sometimes someone from the crowd gets up there.

Colin: How is it going for Kung Fu Komedy?

Andy: It’s going very well. We’re growing and some of our comedians, who didn’t start out thinking this way, are really considering a career in comedy.

Next up, join me in welcoming Joe Schaefer, comedian and the man behind Kung Fu Komedy’s poster art. Joe does a variety of work here in Shanghai, from voice over to graphic design.

Colin: I’m very curious about your open-mic night.

Joe: Open-mic is brutal. The crowd is harsh but in a way that it doesn’t matter. It’s a great atmosphere. Shanghai is starved for this kind of entertainment and people were waiting for a chance to do comedy but no one wanted to get up there alone.

Colin: How does Shanghai inform your comedy?

Joe: Every comedian wants to connect with something people understand. In a way we’re lucky because we have this bonding experience as and with expats in Shanghai so it informs my comedy quite a bit.

Colin: Ever have a joke that fell flat with the audience?

Joe: I have this one about my door Ayi. Every time I bring food home she asks me if it’s KFC. Could be noodles; It doesn’t matter. She asks if it’s KFC. The joke is about how the food gets more ridiculous, like a watermelon, and is still KFC. There’s something there.

They are funny and they are serious. It’s a very interesting aspect of comedy. We’ve all heard that comedians are funny on stage and sullen or withdrawn when they’re offstage. This group isn’t exactly that, but there is a tone, talking to any of them, that let’s you know this is something to see and experience and enjoy. It’s important to mention that this isn’t only a boys club either. There’s Audrey! As the sole-female and one of the earliest members I’m told she has quite a take on it all. So friends, it’s time to have some serious fun. Check out the next show on October 28th at Beedee’s and their website at www.kungfukomedy.com. Shanghai Expats really are starved for this kind of entertainment. Go hungry no more.

Colin Cayer is the Editorial Intern for ShanghaiExpat. If you have any questions or comments about this article, please send an email to: colin.cayer@gmail.com.

Submitted by ShanghaiExpat Editor on Thu, 2011-10-27 14:14

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