ChopSchticks: Live Comedy Comes to the Capital

To get you in the mood for this weekend's live comedy shows, we talked Chinese humor and fart jokes with the man behind the ChopSchticks phenomenon, Richard Robinson. For show times and venue see below.

tbjblog: How, why and when did you establish ChopSchticks?

Richard Robinson: I started ChopSchticks in the late ’90s in the Curiously Fragrant Harbor that is Hong Kong. My pal and I dug live standup comedy and we wanted to import our own "comedy comfort food," so to speak.

It sort of came together like an old "Little Rascals" episode: "Look, I have a busted wagon wheel!"

"Well, I have an old donkey!"

"And I have a carrot!"

"Hey, we have a SHOW!"

I'd done some open mic nights at comedy clubs after college and my buddy was into organizing events. We both worked in advertising so he knew airline and hotel sponsors and I sourced an alcohol sponsor and picked the comics. Next thing you know we had a show and we’re now in our tenth year.

tbjblog: Of all the acts that you have brought to Beijing, what sets the Chicago Improv-Allstars apart?

RR: I would say what really sets them apart is how they've taken being prima donnas to new heights. For instance: some rock bands will get brown m and m’s mixed in with all the rest of the m and m’s in their snack trays even though they explicitly stated in their contract NO GODDAMN BROWN M and M's and then, understandably enraged, they will completely destroy their green room/trailers.

Well, these guys from the Chicago Improv All-Stars have actually stipulated in their agreement that they want m and m’s with no shells at all. So then we had to go out and hire all these people to peel m and m’s all day for them. Royal pain in the ass. Granted, this is a great place for sourcing that kind of piecemeal labor. But due to the fact that they starting melting and well, don't even get me started ...

Actually, seriously, what sets these guys apart is their experience and pedigree. They all came up through the main stage of Second City which is THE factory for unbelievably amazing comedic talent. Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine) from back in the ’50 to John Belushi in the ’70s, and John Candy in the ’80s to Mike Myers of Austin Powers fame in ’90s. Both Steve Carrell from The Office and Steven Colbert … of the Colbert also got their start at Second City.

tbjblog: Do your comedians need to tailor their acts for Chinese audiences and that said, what proportion of the audience are Chinese?

RR: EVERY show is completely different since it is built around audience suggestions. Our shows are targeted at the expat communities.

tbjblog: Are there any fundamental differences between Chinese and Western humor?

RR: Absolutely none whatsoever. Just like there are no difference between Chinese and Western food and Chinese and Western driving … that’s a much longer discussion and perhaps another blog posting for another day.

tbjblog: Is there a Western equivalent to Crosstalk?

RR: In my opinion, it's vaudevillian style comedy. With almost always at least two performers: one straight and one comic. Lots of wordplay, physical comedy, etc.

tbjblog: What's funnier, a rasping fart or someone being hit in the groin by a football/some kind of sports apparel?

RR: Groin kick trumps fart every time.

Dec 8-9
Live Comedy: ChopSchticks
Featuring the comic talents of Joshua Funk, Nyima Funk, Al Samuels and Niki Lindgren of the Chicago Improv All-Stars. In English only. Tickets at 158 1026 1614. RMB 220 (in advance), RMB 280 (door).
Dec 8, 7.30pm and 10pm; Dec 9, 7.30pm. Block 8 (6508 8585)