By Andrew Chin
Punchline Comedy brings back the always rib-tickling talents of Whose Line Is It Anyway? to Shenzhen on May 23 (for just RMB190 before May 9) and Shanghai on May 25 and 26. Expect plenty of improv hijinks as the UK’s Andy Smart, Stephen Frost and Niall Ashdown, and Irishman Ian Coppinger build the show based on audience suggestions. We chat with Smart about the global popularity of Whose Line Is It Anyway, licking Paula Yates and how he loves Sichuan food (even though it doesn't love him back).
We've heard the funniest act you do is eating spicy food...
I love spicy food! But I do have quite a violent reaction to it. My forehead turns into Niagara Falls. Apparently the body produces adrenalin and the same endorphins when you eat hot food as it does when you do dangerous sports. I love dangerous sports. I have run 60 times with the Bulls in Pamplona. (There are 8 runs every year.)
Are you a fan of Sichuan food?
Sichuan food is fantastic, we went to one place and ordered the 'hot cock'. A few bits of chicken and hundreds of chilies turned up. The waiter said not to eat the chilies. I waited till he'd gone then popped one in my mouth, suddenly all the waiters were running to our table shouting NOOOO! I couldn't taste anything for a week. Brilliant.
You're such a Whose Line Is It Anyway veteran, but how did you first get involved?
I started on the street in a double act called the Vicious Boys. In order to get new material, we would make up ten minutes of every show by asking the crowd for a film title, then trying to act it out.
In Ian's interview he mentioned that the human pyramid was the toughest suggestion you've faced. Can you think of a worse one?
No one has topped it. If you look at us you will realize how hard creating a pyramid from our aching ageing bodies was!
According to your Wikipedia, you licked Paula Yates' face. True or not?
We were doing The Tube, a tv show on a Friday night with bands on. We were the comedy. Angelo, my partner, brought me on as his dog and I performed tricks to his commands. He'd say "Sit," and I would pretend to defecate, and he'd say 'No, I said sit!' At the end Paula was supposed to introduce the next band but I bounded over to her and licked her face. She was horrified and said "Get off! Oohs you smell of beer."
Whose Line is it Anyway is such a popular show around the world. How many countries would you say you tour in a year?
We have performed in 20 countries so far, including Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Taiwan, USA, UAE, Estonia, and Germany. A lot of shows we are playing to expats. But in Estonia and Singapore it is more locals. We play it pretty much the same, as basically we are grown men behaving like 7-year-old boys. It helps that we all have the same references, films TV, world events, popular culture. The world is shrinking and we are benefitting from it.
Besides Whose Line Is It Anyway, any additional projects that you are working on?
I'm trying to set up a World Tour of Snail racing. So far I've been quicker than all of them.
Shanghai
RMB290. May 25, 8pm, Cages Bar and Sports. 3/F, Jing'an Sports Center, 428 Jiangning Lu, by Wuding Lu 江宁路428号, 近武定路, 静安体育中心3楼
RMB290.May 26, 8pm, Blossoms, Kerry Hotel Pudong, 2/F, 1388 Huamu Lu, by Fangdian Lu 花木路1388号上海浦东嘉里大酒店2楼, 近芳甸路
Buy tickets here.
Shenzhen
RMB190 early bird price before May 9, RMB220 after. May 23, 8pm, Hard Rock Cafe. 9 Mission Hills Dadao, Longhua New District 龙华新区观澜高尔夫大道9号
Buy tickets here.