Bangalore is starved for good comedy, says Jonathan Atherton, stand-up comedian who is in the city this week to perform at a ‘Music & Comedy Evening’. The line-up for the evening includes musical prodigy Tara Kumaravelu with her unique repertoire of selections, followed by a comic act by Atherton.
A good comedian observes and explores cultures, and this is a skill Atherton has honed over the years. Whether he adds a dash of philosophy in India, roars like a sports anchor in the USA or slips a local flavour into his comedy routine in Australia, there is always something that endears him to his audience instantly.
“People imagine that stand-up comedy is all about reeling off jokes from the Internet,” he says. “It is not like that at all. It is sharp, observational, cutting edge and you have to stay on your toes all the time.”
Atherton, who is also an actor, television presenter, voice artiste, screen writer and award-winning photographer, has many credits to his name. It was his love for culture and adventure that drew him away from the staid corridors of academia at a young age and into some serious travelling. He spent most of the 80’s travelling through Asia and Africa where he worked at diverse jobs like working as a tour guide, salvage diver, teacher, set builder, photographer, restaurateur and actor.
So, what kind of comedy does he plan to bring to Bangalore? “My main focus is on the veneer of culture and the underlying oneness of humanity... subtext: Hum sab ek hain!”, hesays. “My material will be anecdotal and reality-based rather than ridiculous or blandly observational.” Across the world, there are varied preferences when it comes to comedy. “I think Indian audiences like comedy to be truthful and somewhat philosophical,” says Atherton. “The audiences I have performed for across the subcontinent are smart and world-savvy. Oriental audiences tend to be a bit slapstick, The British love wordplay and Americans can only relate to the lowest common denominator— as long as it’s fashionably politically correct as they don’t understand irony.”
According to Atherton, the hardest part of being a comedian, is “being funny”. As he explains, “Many things are interesting and worthy of comment but if it’s not funny it’s not comedy; it’s pure self-indulgence. India is a growing market with huge potential. Every time I return I observe an increase in interest and, more importantly, a greater expectation of quality.”
As for the newest trends in comedy across the world, Atherton says that many comedians are now craftsmen, creating products for the purpose of marketing it. “The real comedians are artistes who try to make sense of the world in their own way,” he says. “They are modern philosophers who, rather than pontificating serious concepts in convoluted ways, present their views in sound-bytes punctuated by punchlines.”
As for the esoteric mix of music and comedy that will be on show at the event,Ajit Saldanha, producer of the event, says: “Music, especially the eclectic selection compiled by Tara, will lift spirits and create a mellow mood in an audience, so when a full-on, unique stand up comedian like Jonathan takes the microphone, the audience will be ready for him in more ways than one.”
The event will be held on March 20 at the Grand Magrath hotel at 7:30pm.
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