The city’s original comedy promoters, Punchline Comedy, are bringing in a loaded triple bill of Paul Zenon, Andrew Stanley and Damian Clark. Zenon’s comedy-magic has made him a favorite in both worlds. We chat about his style and his first Shakespearian role.
Will this be your first time in China?
I've been to Hong Kong several times and Macau for a day but haven't visited anywhere else in China. I'm always excited to see somewhere new but haven't made any plans – am open to suggestions! I generally like to wander around markets and junk shops looking for unusual knick-knacks rather than the designer outlets often favoured by tourists, and am looking forward to the food, as ever.
You're a man of many skills. How would you describe your current comedy show?
It's basically what's become known as 'street magic' mixed with stand-up, so hopefully a bit more contemporary than the old top and rabbit image still attached to magicians, and hopefully funnier.
No VPN? Watch Paul Zenon perform street magic on Youku.
As a magician, did you have to overcome any early skepticism breaking into the comedy world?
If anything, the magic gave me an advantage because having that made me different. And it means that the comedy travels quite well because it's situational – relating to what's happening there and then rather than localized references, which may or may not be relevant to the audience.
Are there any newer magician-comedians that you recommend?
Hard to recommend newer magician-comedians as, unlike comics, we don't generally work on the same bill as other similar performers, so we don't get to see one another. Plus newer generally means younger and more energetic, so I'm not going to promote the competition when they already have those advantages over me!
Your book Street Magic was your definitive how to guide to doing magic. Why did you decide to lift up the curtain?
I started developing it around 2004 with the intention of producing the book that I'd have loved to have received when I was a teenager with a serious interest in learning magic. Consequently it starts off with simple tricks that are almost 'self-working' but builds gradually to professional level magic, so a complete course.
A new, condensed version has just been published though, retitled Practical Magic, to accompany another book I wrote about pranks and wind-ups. That was originally called Paul Zenon's Dirty Tricks but has been renamed, simply, Practical Jokes.
Besides stand-up are there any projects that you are working on that you’d like to promote?
I'm doing more acting these days and just did my first Shakespeare role – playing a small part as a drunken petty criminal, so that was easy; pretty much 'business as usual.' And I've released a custom deck of playing cards called the 'Z-Ray Deck,' which I designed in collaboration with cult comic book artist Vince Ray.
No VPN? Watch Paul Zenon's 'Card Through Window' on Youku.
Local comedy scenes are starting to develop across China. Any advice to people starting out with the form?
Just watch all you can but try not to copy anyone, no matter how much you like their style. It only works when you are just 'you,' and that's harder than it sounds – you can only learn it by getting as much stage time as you can under your belt. And don't rush your first line – the audience are not really listening at that point, they're weighing you up.
Is there anything you would like to add?
Eat plenty of vegetables.
> Fri Nov 27, 8pm, RMB290. Zapata’s, tickets. See event listing.
> Sat Nov 28, 8pm, RMB290. Blossoms, 2/F, Kerry Hotel Pudong, tickets. See event listing.
> Check out interviews with Andrew Stanley and Damian Clark.
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