We speak with veteran comedian John Cleese all the way from the Four Seasons in Sydney
When I spoke to veteran British comedian John Cleese over the phone, a few weeks ago, I was star-struck and understandably so. The 74-year-old will be in Singapore in early May for a two-night stand-up act at the University Cultural Centre (UCC) in the National University of Singapore.
Known for shows such as television comedy series “Fawlty Towers” and “Monty Python” as well as the hit movie A Fish Called Wanda, the veteran is darkly hilarious.
What are you expecting from your first show in Singapore?
I haven’t the slightest idea! I don’t know how many expats there would be in the crowd from England or Australia, but I love performing for Asian audiences as they are introverted like me.
In America, they are quite extroverted and they tend to whoop quite a bit, and I don’t really get what that is all about! There are two proper ways to enjoy a joke, you either laugh or clap, if it was really amusing. Introverted audiences are more interesting and they will enjoy the show in their own way.
Have you planned what you’re going to say?
Yes, I have. It is a very personal autobiography about how I grew up in England that was being bombed by the Germans, to going off to Cambridge and how I got into showbiz. As I get older, I realise how quite a bit of that has something to do with luck. I’m going to show a few clips, the making of a few shows, and I will talk about the real hotel that Fawlty Towers was based on. I will talk about black humour as well and why audiences get offended.
Are you surprised that younger audiences know you work?
It is very surprising to me that young kids know me. Of course, they don’t know me from my work from Monty Python, but they know me as King Harold from Shrek or the chimpanzee in George of the Jungle or from the movie Cars.
There are clips of your old shows such as “Monty Python” and “Fawlty Towers” on YouTube. Do you think that helps expose your work to a new crowd?
Most definitely. In the past, there was the assumption that once someone laughs at a joke, they don’t want to hear the same joke again. But with YouTube, people watch these clips over and over again like how one would listen to a piece of music. That helps a new audience be familiar with my other work.
We hear that there is going to be a Monty Python reunion.
Yes, in London in July at the O2 Arena. We’ll be doing the Monty Python golden oldies, some new stuff, and old stuff as well. We aren’t going to tour, so we are keeping it at ten shows and after the last show, that will probably be the last time we’ll get together. There’s always the temptation to get the gang back together though!
Are there any new comedians you like?
Well, I don’t watch much television. But the comedians that came after me were brilliantly talented, such as Emma Thompson, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Rowan Atkinson, you know that bunch. They aren’t new anymore but they are quite a bit younger than me [laughs].
The sad thing about doing comedy for 50 years is that you know most of the jokes and it’s harder to find something delightful these days.
As a comedian, I’m sure you often get asked for a joke. Having said that, could you tell us one?
Let me ask my wife [turns to mutter to his wife]. All right, a man goes to the doctor, the doctor says, “What’s your problem?” The man replies, “Doctor, I feel like a pair of curtains.” The doctor replies, “Well, pull yourself together!”
An Evening With John Cleese takes place on May 4 & 5, at 8pm. Tickets from Sistic.
By Cheryl Chia
ADVERTISEMENTS