Ryan Withers :
Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2011
By
Lisa Dib
Ryan Withers, as I wrote around
this time last year, was a surprise hit at the Melbourne International
Comedy Festival; as well as his unconventional manner of promoting
(‘The Box’, that he is continuing this year, so go say hello next time
you pass the Town Hall), his comedy is of a highly original and offbeat
caliber…and so it returns in 2011, in the form of “The Lemon-Lime
Funtacular Occurrence Hour Right On”.
I picked Withers’ brain briefly
to see what last year's Best Newcomer Nominee has planned for his '11
run.
So, how did you get started in
this comedy lark then?
I put my name down for Raw
Comedy in 2007 after ten years of thinking about it.
You’ve been seen outside the
Town Hall with your fake Info Booth. How often are people fooled by it?
Has anyone ever kicked it with you inside?
People don't kick the booth,
they give me money and kisses... please don't kick the booth. But it
gets mistaken for a real booth all the time; people want to know where
the toilets are. I usually tell them the only toilets in Melbourne are
at my venue, Softbelly, which is why my audience mostly consists of
bathroom-goers.
Your comedy is pretty bizarre,
in a good way. How carefully do you plan what you’ll perform? Do you
worry about the potentially fatal ‘ad libbing’?
It's written with specific moments given
room for an "insert ad lib here" moment; these can be
spotted easily because they are usually filled with stony silence.
Who are your comedy idols?
Shane Matheson, Steve Martin,
Shaun
Micallef... anyone with the initials S and M. And Kristen Wiig.
Tell us about your show this year.
It's like a late-night talk
show or a variety show. It's alright I guess; better than last years’
for which I won Best Newcomer… I'm being told I was only nominated and
didn't win. Which is strange ‘cause I'm alone right now writing this.
Ryan Withers is performing at
Softbelly bar in “The Lemon-Lime Funtacular Occurrence Hour Right On”
until April 24 and at Fad Gallery with The Pedigree Syndicate until
April 23.
Ryan Withers - The
Lemon-Lime Funtacular Occurrence Hour Right On : BUY
TICKETS
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