FESTIVAL COMEDY | European Comedy MIND YOUR LANGUAGE
PACO ERHARD Paco Erhard’s return to the Fringe balances irreverent, provocative social satire with more personal insight, such as his formative decision to hitchhike out of Germany – ‘the most pivotal hours of my life; intense fear, hope, doubts and dreams’. Ultimately leading to this globetrotting comedian’s lifestyle, he began his stand-up career performing in English for tourists in Tenerife. Indeed, Erhard only tried stand-up in Germany for the i rst time a year ago, surprising himself with ‘how difi cult I found comedy in my own language!’
Complementing his more Teutonic traits – ‘a crippling but sometimes helpful perfectionism and deep sentimentality’ – Britain has made his sense of humour ‘anarchic, more fearless, unrestrained, irreverent. And almost excessively polite in real life.’ His show title derives from a Berlin gig which, ‘as
they politely say in English, “I ripped the shit out of”. People at two tables got up and walked out. One lady shouted something to the effect that I was “the worst German ever”. Which I thought was funny. Because, let’s just say, historically I do have competition.’ ■ Paco Erhard: Worst. German. Ever, Cowgatehead, 226 0000, 2–25 Aug (not 4, 11, 18), 8.45pm, free. Preview 1 Aug, free.
32 THE LIST FESTIVAL 31 Jul–7 Aug 2014
IGOR MEERSON As one of the i rst Russians performing stand-up, Igor Meerson elaborates on the difi culties of introducing the new art form at home. ‘If a man stands on stage and says, “Hello, my name is Peter. My wife left me because I’m an alcoholic and yesterday I drank all her perfume,” in Russia, no one will know that you are joking. They see a person with a problem and are ready to help, to advise. To drink with you.’
The St Petersburg native’s self-deprecating show explores ‘cultural differences and features stories of my crazy personal experiences. The second is usually a result of the i rst.’ Unlike Western audiences, who ‘laugh, not only at well-written jokes but interesting observations and ideas’, Russian crowds are tougher he suggests, because jokes are paramount.
‘Everybody in Russia considers themselves to have interesting observations,’ he explains. ‘They are unforgiving, which helps to make your brain work harder.’ At his i rst UK spots last year, he was both surprised and pleased: ‘British audiences are so open and will sometimes react a couple of times when you’re still on your way to the punchline.’ ■ Igor Meerson: Hou I Lernt Inglish, Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 2–25 Aug (not 11), 8.30pm, £8–£10.50 (£7–£9.50). Previews 30 Jul–1 Aug, £6.
FRANCESCO DE CARLO By the close of the festival, the ‘expressive, surreal and slightly Mediterranean’ Francesco De Carlo aims to ‘lose my tan, improve my English and inl ate my belly with your beer’. As part of a group of comedians who’ve brought stand-up to Comedy Central in Italy and established a touring circuit there, he’s content performing in the ad hoc space of the Pleasance. ‘In Italy, we do stand-up in random places because we don’t have clubs,’ he laments. ‘In the beginning I did shows in restaurants while people were eating. I often felt a little unwanted!’ Restricting his allusions to Silvio Berlusconi (‘there’s
only three or four jokes about him in the show, I promise!’), De Carlo has nevertheless found it ‘impossible not to touch on Italian vices. However, 90% of the show is about politics, society, religion, sex, drugs, alcohol and other universal subjects.’ He admits that comedy in a second language is
hard, but harder still is answering questions from inane journalists who confuse him with London mob boss Francesco Di Carlo. ‘You got me! I just want to start a brand new life. I’m totally knackered right now. And I don’t even know what “knackered” means.’ ■ Francesco De Carlo: Italians Do it Later, Pleasance Courtyard, 556 6550, 2–25 Aug (not 11), 10.50pm, £8–£10.50 (£7–£9.50). Previews 30 Jul–1 Aug, £6.