20 April 2012 (Comedy Interview)

Interview by: @carolineforan

As Andrew Stanley's much anticipated solo Laughter Lounge gig fast approahces, we at entertainment.ie thought it best to check in with the man himself to see how he is and what he's been up to.

So, Andrew, by now you're quite the stalwart on the Irish Comedy scene, compering both your Mish Mash show and Comedy Cellar shows on a weekly basis. But what can one expect from your solo show?
Well I always try and just have lots of fun with an audience and include them as much as I can. It will be a mixture of a lot of the things I do in my other shows including some treats for people, audience interaction and general silliness.

Did you always want to be a comedian?
No not at all. I always wanted to be a pilot. I was going to be one when I left school and then found out in the medical after being accepted onto a course that I was colour blind in reds and greens. The Italian flag is all one big blur to me.

No way! Seen as the whole pilot thing is out of the question, what would you be doing if you weren't a successful stand up now?
I have no idea at all. Probably still be a computer programmer. But I would still go drinking in Coppers as much as possible! :D

Out of interest, someone who divides opinion in here is Michael McIntyre and what's now known as The Michael McIntyre effect. What's your stance?
I find it funny the amount of people who give out about Michael. The thing that you have to remember is he hasn't gotten as big as he is by luck alone. He is a very, very good performer and personally I find him very funny. I hung around with him a little in Montreal during Just For Laughs in 2007 just before he became mega big and he seemed like a nice guy who was perhaps a little more, let's say, 'driven' than everyone else.

On the off chance that a joke goes over the heads of most of the audience - or God forbid, it bombs - is there a get out of jail free card comedians train themselves to use? How do you recover?
Oh there are some out there but I tend to just talk my way out of it. A lot of people will say it's new material or the audience last night got that one in a cheeky way but for me it's easier to wander through the problem you've created until you come out the other side.

What's the best/worst thing about doing stand up?
There are a few things that are great about being a standup but the best has to be the feeling when a new joke really lands or to a response to a really good show like an encore or standing ovation. Things like that. On the flipside there are quite a few not so great things but none worse than when something doesn't work that you really thought was going to.

Is there much competition between yourself and your comedy peers?
Haha only when we play football on Wednesday afternoons then it's no holds barred!!!!! When it comes to the circuit I surround myself with what I think are some of the good guys and you can't go wrong with something like that. Most of us are very supportive of each other and help each other when we can be it through pushing each others shows, working with each other on material, hanging out after shows or just an providing an ear to listen to things.

What's the ultimate dream for you?
Ah I have quite a few ambitions that I want to achieve but as is the Irish way if you say them and don't quite get there people always remember haha. This show is one though. To perform to an audience this size in a solo show in my home city is going to be lots of fun.

What's your idea of the perfect day?
What a question! I feel like I am doing an interview for Bunty or something. Wake up, breakfast in bed, go into the sittingroom where Radiohead are ready to play a private gig for me, then a quick game of five a side in the afternoon with Liverpool FC, before dinner cooked by Gordon Ramsay and a gig in front of 20,000 people. Oh and I am the owner of America. Not president. Owner.

You travel quite a bit, how is your stand up received in the likes of Asia?
It is received pretty well no matter where I go thank God. But I have to clear something up because a few people seem to be confused by this. When I go to places like Hong Kong and China I am performing to ex-pats mainly from Ireland and the UK. It's not like I am talking to locals in Mandarin and telling gags about the restrictions on Facebook or anything like "Knock Knock? Who's there? It's the government here to take away your second born." Nothing like that.

What do you think of the name Beyonce and JayZ's baby - Blue Ivy Carter?
It's great. Colours and plants in the same name? You can't go wrong with that. She sounds like an evil character in a comic book.

If you were to pick a movie star to play you in a movie about your life, who would it be and why?
Matthew Lillard. He is one of the guys who was a killer in the first Scream film and played Shaggy in Scooby Doo. Purely because he looks like me. If he wasn't available, although I would say he is, then Samuel L. Jackson. He says yes to everything at the moment.

What's the first thing you'd buy if you won the Euro Millions?
Another Euro Millions ticket. BOOM! I don't know actually. I know I wouldn't tell anyone about it that's for sure. Myself and Andrew Maxwell were talking about this the other day saying how we couldn't understand those people who go and have their picture taken with a big dirty cheque for millions. It's like sending a little note to all your friends and relatives and anybody you have ever met just saying “PINTS ARE ON ME!”

Is there any comedian past or present that you've ever tried to emulate?
I wouldn't say I try to emulate anybody but to me Jason Byrne is the most perfect live stand up. He takes gigs to places I can only dream of and people are genuinely in pain from watching him.

And who are you most enjoying right now?
I am liking quite a few including Foil, Arms & Hog, John Colleary and Damian Clark. I have also been watching lots of old classic Steve Martin and Saturday Night Live clips which are always good to go back to.

What's the plan for 2012?
Just keep doing as many shows and festivals as possible. I am back to Hong Kong in 2 weeks and then doing my first shows in LA in April and asides from that working towards making this the most talked about comedy show in Dublin in 2012! Get your tickets while you still can! *please*

Bank Holiday Sunday May 6th, Laughter Lounge, €15 tickets, Doors 8pm. Tickets available here.

 

Back to Comedy Exclusives