Page 12 - MASALA LITE ISSUE 90 | MARCH 2018

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International comic sensation Russell Peters ternational comic sensation ternational comic sensation ternational comic sensation
gets ‘Deported’ on his new
gets ‘Deported’ on his new
gets ‘Deported’ on his new world tour. world tour. world tour.
gets ‘Deported’ on his new world tour.

BY ASHIMA SETHIY ASHIMA SETHIY ASHIMA SETHI
B B
t

As one of the world’s most popular comedians, Russell Peters has built a career s one of the world’s most popular comedians,
A
on rus
on rus
on rustling more than just a few feathers. With his profession in stand-up comedy tling more than just a few feathers. With his profession in stand-up comedy tling more than just a few feathers. With his profession in stand-up comedy tling more than just a few feathers. With his profession in stand-up comedy
on rus
on rustling more than just a few feathers. With his profession in stand-up comedy
spanning over 30 years, Russell has developed a distinct ability to poke fun at anning over 30 years, Russell has developed a distinct ability to poke fun at anning over 30 years, Russell has developed a distinct ability to poke fun at
spanning over 30 years, Russell has developed a distinct ability to poke fun at
sp sp “Well I live in America now, and if you look at
culturally-sensitive issues, which include racial stereotypes and stigmas, remaining
cul
culturally-sensitive issues, which include racial stereotypes and stigmas, remaining turally-sensitive issues, which include racial stereotypes and stigmas, remaining
side who the president is, it becomes pretty evident
side-splitting and socially relevant through the years. His unique and observational -splitting and socially relevant through the years. His unique and observational
side-splitting and socially relevant through the years. His unique and observational
approach to humour famously involves making fun of individuals at his shows,
approach to humour famously involves making fun of individuals at his shows, that if anybody is going to get deported,
leaving audience members laughing and cringing at the same time. However, behind
the humour is a pressing social commentary, where every jovial jab is also a point of they’re going to look like me.”
refl ection on why racial issues still exist today. With new and exciting material, the
funny man returns for his third show in Bangkok, aptly called The Deported World
Tour on March 4th at Muang Thong Thani. Masala provides an insider’s scoop.
who fi rmly believe in freedom of speech. Sometimes we get away with it, and
When did you realise that stand-up comedy was your calling? sometimes, we don’t. You can try to stop a comic, but usually that just gives us
I always liked making people laugh, whether it was in class, on the playground or more motivation to keep talking.
at the mall. When I started doing it on stage and I heard people, who didn’t know
me at all, laughing, I was like “ooh,” this is quite a wonderful feeling. It gave me a So when the world is dark or bleak, what is the role of humour?
sense of power. Humour is what keeps people sane; being able to laugh at the world is all we have
left sometimes. Otherwise, we are all just sitting here in a blind panic, worrying
What is it about Bangkok that keeps you coming back? about the end of the world.
I love Bangkok. It really is one of my favourite stops on any tour. I don’t know what it
is, but Bangkok is just such a lively city. Why is your current show called The
Deported World Tour?
Your fans in Thailand are quite diverse, what are your comments about that? Well I live in America now, and if you look
I see diversity all over Asia. The rest of the world thinks that Thailand is just at who the president is, it becomes pretty
full of Thai people, but when you visit, you realise that there are so many other evident that if anybody is going to get
nationalities living here too. deported, they’re going to look like me.
It must be diffi cult to perform stand-up comedy in a country where English is You’re also starring in a new Netfl ix show,
not the fi rst language. Do you have any strategies in adjusting your content for called The Indian Detective. Is it harder
each audience? to be a stand-up comedian or a comedy
I have been doing stand-up for such a long time, so it comes with the territory. Once actor?
you’ve done something long enough, it becomes second nature and you learn how Acting isn’t rocket science by any means,
to adapt and adjust naturally. The goal is for the audience to laugh, and never to and you’re not changing the world by it.
upset or make them feel uncomfortable. If they are uncomfortable, it is done in a The acting is easy but the rest is out of my
fun way you know? control. So I’ll always choose stand-up
comedy over everything.
Across the globe, more and more comedians are touching upon current issues and
playing a signifi cant part in social movements, what are your thoughts on this? Have people responded well to the series?
I believe comedians are the last truth-tellers around. You can’t rely on the news The series has had a great response. It was
or politics, so the only people left are comedians, because we’re the only ones received really well. Now we’re just hoping we
get a second season out of it.

Do you hope to fi nd more material when
you visit Thailand this time?
Oh yeah defi nitely! I always keep my eyes
open for new material. I hang out with DJ Ono
and DjayBuddah who always take me around.
They show me the real Bangkok and not just
the touristy part. That’s what I really love
about visiting, because then I get to feel like
a local with some locals. Well to be fair, with
some locals who aren’t even that local.

What would you like to say to your Thai fans?
I can’t wait to see you and khob khun krap.

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