shuffle
At the RSC he pretended to be the sea and in Edinburgh he sparred with Christian Slater. Leaving the theatre behind for now, Felix Dexter tells Julian Hall that he's happy again with his first love
t‘s the first time in over a decade that Felix
Dexter has played a solo Fringe show. In the
interim years comedy fans may have seen his stint as Saffy's boyfriend in Absolutely fabulous. a pesky doorstepping Christian in [5 Storeys High. plus appearances in sketch affairs. The Fast Show and The Armstmng and Miller Show. Dexter first came to prominence in The Real McCoy. the kind of television showcase for black comedy talent that’s as needed now as it was then. Dexter has built on his particular knack for character comedy and made several forays into the acting world including a stint at the RSC. Fringe crowds may remember him in One Flew Over the C lie/(m) 's Nest.
Not Just Another White Guy Lost in the Shuflle marks Dexter‘s full return to the stand-up fold. ‘When I was at the RSC I had a ten-month period where I must have played just three or four gigs.‘ he explains. ‘I would come back to stand-up and think “how does this work?”
‘WE'RE THE MEXICAN ROADSWEEPERS OF THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY'
When he did make a full return he found that stand-up, the first love which he stumbled upon at an open spot night at Jongleurs (and ultimately overtook a possible career in law). was an irresistible force. ‘lt‘s where my hunger is. With stand-up you are responsible for the whole evening whereas in a theatrical situation you‘re at the behest of the cast and director.‘
Of course his time as part of an ensemble has given the Caribbean-born, Surrey-bred performer a few yarns that he can work into his solo act. ‘One of my first experiences was this woman in a kaftan coming and asking me if I could be the sea: every drama student‘s nightmare. So there I am wondering how deep I am. ifl have boats in me. or ifl am in a harbour? l was going like this [makes whooshing sound and waves arms gently] and she comes up. stares at me quizzically and says. “What are you doing?" I say. “I am being the sea" and she says. “No. you’re not; you’re being the sound of the sea. aren‘t you?“ So I just changed the sound a bit and she goes, “That’s it!” It won’t just be tales of thespian goings-on that Dexter will be
20 THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 31 Jul—7 Aug 2008
his new show.
‘So much of stand-up is about sensing the zeitgeist. what is that people are moved by.
challenged by or focused on socially or politically.’ Dexter feels a ‘willingness to let people go places to say exactly what you feel however unpalatable it may be.‘ Which means that in the guise of a tin-PC character.
Dexter feels able to make a joke like ‘a lot of people died in Burma recently. but on the good side there‘s a lot more orphans for childless British couples to adopt.‘
()f the joke he comments. ‘it’s dark. definitely. but for me it‘s saying something about the reality of what goes on but also saying something about the tiurocentric focus of news.‘ It‘s also an example
of what the comedian thinks
audiences expect: that need to be challenged. ‘The craft of doing comedy has become much more polished and audiences want to be taken somewhere: it‘s not just about seeing a bloke at the mic being ironic.‘ You can tell that Dexter’s return to the stand-up fold has taken hold. as he asserts that the form can be ‘no less stimulating than theatre’ and laments the fact that comics are seen as ‘the Mexican roadsweepers of the entertainment industry".
The difference between comedians and actors is about a perceived hierarchy and Dexter is well-placed to understand both. ‘I remember during one rehearsal of (‘uekmi's Nest being asked by the director to react to Christian Slater in a certain way as he came on stage. I found myself asking. “What‘s my motivation?" but thinking. “Norm!” as the words came out of my mouth. Afterwards Dave Johns came up to me and said. “Felix. I just saw the stand-up in you leave the room and go out the window.‘ That stand-up is well and truly back in the room.
Felix Dexter, Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 2-25 Aug (not 6, 13), 8.20pm,
£1 1-£12 (£9.50—£10.50). Previews until 1 Aug, £6.
fielding as material for
SPLIT PERSONALITY
Since his divorce, Canadian comic Glenn Wool hasn't just sat around moping. He's written a show about it entitled Goodbye Scars. Here he offers his top tips on getting over it
Not unless ini want to be seen Crying to 'Total Eclipse of the Heart'. or something of that stature. in public. The iPod shuffle has to be an option not used for up to six months after the Signing of the divorce papers because there's always a Pink Floyd mother song floating around out there or something yOU never even knew y0u had on there till you're blubbering to it.
Things like taxes. the dishes. laundry. In any partnership. the natural talents of everybody involved take over and I am neither cleanly nor organised enough. But I can take a spider out of the house.
I split up With a wonderful girl where it had gotten too serious too giiickly. So I called my mom up to tell her what had happened and to hear from her that I'd done the right thing. I told her the whole story and she said, ‘I can't hold this in any longer; yOLir father backed over the family dog with the hay truck.‘ That was the worst job of cheering someone up ever.
A lot of this show is ab0ut divorce but it's not too speCific about my ex-Wife. The old way of people getting divorced isn't too positive. getting bumper stickers saying 'ex—wife in truck'. I'm trying to keep my ex-Wife out of it because she's upset that I talk about our marriage and divorce on stage. I'm aware of what she's upset ab0ut. though she has no right to be. But by the same token. it's bad voodoo to bring up someone on stage who obviously doesn‘t want that.
We were together for five happy years and owned a house and then got married and two years later it was over. If you‘re looking to end a relationship. I'd say the top tip would be to get married. ilnterView by Brian Donaldson)
Glenn Wool. Underbelly, 0844 545 8252, 2—24 Aug (not 12), IO. 15pm, {IO—£772.50 (EB—£71 1.50). Prevrews 37 Jul 8 7 Aug, E 7.