Carr often offends, but didn't
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Top UK comedian stays close to predictable world tour script to entertain Bangkok audience
A FUNNY thing happened on the way to Bangkok’s Comedy Club the other night … but we can’t tell you about it.
If we could tell you, we might describe a couple of hours of improvised comedy from Jimmy Carr, one of Britain’s most popular stand-up funnymen.
As explained by one of the event organisers, media attending on free tickets were not allowed to review the event due to some “contractual” stipulation. The intention behind the stipulation was, however, a bit of a mystery that even he was unable to clarify.
Regardless, we are therefore bound by the reporting restriction.
So please consider this the observations, most definitely not a review, of two Nation journalists who attended the third “sold-out” event over Sunday and Monday in the ballroom of the Westin Grande Sukhumvit.
Maybe the surroundings were to blame for apparent lack of reaction from the 600-plus audience, desperate to be insulted, embarrassed and barraged with some toe-curling, off-colour, cringing jokes.
As Carr himself pointed out, the ballroom’s grand decor, with its enormous crystal chandeliers and uniform rows of seats, made him feel like he was performing at a wedding reception. As the show progressed, the emcee and the guests began to suit the venue.
While the audience as a whole enjoyed the show, even the diehard Carr fans had few knee-slappin’ belly laughs to remember.
As one member of the audience pointed out, if you’re a fan you’ve already heard most of the jokes on YouTube or some other social media and there wasn’t a whole lot of “improvisation” to make the evening unique for the punters who paid between Bt1,800 and Bt3,200.
While there were some references to tickle the Bangkok funnybone they were fleeting among random stories and one-liners that revolved around sex and male and female genitalia.
Sex with Siamese twins, Viagra, sexpats pursued for their passports, Burmese immigration, exploited factory workers and sex workers were some of the local issues touched on by Carr, although there was nothing that a regular netizen would find particularly offensive.
Even when one member of the audience opened the door to a local comedy goldmine by asking him if he was “shaggin’” in Bangkok, he ignored the obvious opportunity.
A screened appeal at the beginning of the show for hecklers as well as Carr’s repeated request for criticism didn’t wake the audience to the need for their participation to inject life into the show.
Even the tried and true roasting of front-row members of the audience didn’t work too well as Carr managed to derive little humour from their normal lives.
Carr’s reputation for close-to-the-knuckle comedy has taken him across the world with appearances on some of the biggest TV shows as well as movies. He has entertained millions of people with his trademark deadpan delivery and signature laugh.
Broadcasting accolades aside, performing live is the lifeblood of most comedians, who need the energy of the audience to return a memorable performance. While the show was entertaining, it did not rise to the level expected of an entertainer of his calibre.
Whatever the reason, maybe it is just as well we were barred from writing a review of the show.
