Bengaluru was the first city Russell Peters, a popular stand-up comedian, performed in. He is now back in the city for his latest show —Deported. The artiste, known for his astute cultural observations, speaks to MetroPlus .
Excerpts from the interview.
What is the significance of the title ‘Deported’?
If you look at the name of my specials over the years, there’s been ‘Outsourced’, ‘Red, white and brown’, ‘The Green Card Tour’, etc. ‘Deported’ follows the same theme. Also I live in America during the Trump administration, and I am a brown, Canadian man. So, if anybody is going to get deported, they’re going to look like me. The content is more mature, less cross-cultural humour, but it is about my life and is real.
It takes a thorough understanding of other cultures, to comment on it. Do you agree?
You have to understand people if you have to talk about them, otherwise you will be talking out of the side of your neck and that is no good. That is why I am able to go to other countries, like Hong Kong, China, and The Middle East. I am able to cross over to all these places. The audience enjoys my work because they know I understand their culture.
How have your stand-up acts evolved over the years?
I have been doing stand-up comedy for 30 years. When I started, I was 19. If you are the same person at 49 that you were at 19, you’ve stunted. It has to grow with you. You can only talk about things you know about and have experienced. So for me it is a continuous journey.
You faced bullying due to your ethnicity as a child. Do you think that made you an astute observer of human nature?
I think it makes my observations more sensitive because I understand how it feels to be hurt when somebody misunderstands you. So I try to say things in a certain way where it is understood the right way. If it gets misunderstood, it means you misheard or misinterpreted it.
How do you respond to people taking offence?
When people take offence, ultimately it is their issue, not mine. The minute I give any weight to what they say, I validate their offence. If I did say something out of line, and I am very aware of what I say and how I say it, I can see how people can see it a certain way, I can see their point. But it is about intent and not about words. It is about the look, it is about everything. It is so much more than just a word.
How do you prepare for your performances?
My act is just an extension of me. The guy you see on stage is who I am off stage. But I am slightly toned-down off stage. On stage I am an amplified version of me.
Can you tell us about how you came to be inspired by George Carlin (well-known American stand-up comedian)?
I used to listen to George Carlin records when I was a child. He has always been an inspiration for me. In Canada, there used to be this show called Sunday Night Funnies on the radio. I would fall asleep every night to this show. I started buying comedy records. Back then you could borrow records from the library.
How do you engage with the audience while performing?
It is like going out on a date. When you are in a good mood and want to talk and the other person doesn’t want to, that is going to make for a miserable night. But, if they are going to have a good time and I am going to have a good time, then it is going to be a wonderful night.
‘Deported World Tour 2019’ is being presented by Supermoon, launched by ZEE Live. Russell Peters will perform on May 29 at Manpho Convention Centre, Manyata Tech Park Road. Tickets are available on www. insider.in.
