He's the red-headed/strawberry blonde/gingerish Tim Vine. The lanky Milton Jones. You get the idea. Mark Simmons* is one of the country's top one-liner comics. If you want gags he's got 'em. His show is packed with them. It's clever stuff too, done in his own distinctive, thoughtful style. Don't worry if you think a punchline doesn't quite work for you, that's probably because it's a set-up for another gag further on in the show. Simmons, who recently supported Rob Brydon on tour, puts a lot of work into structuring a show rather than just rolling out the funnies for your amusement, though he does that too. If you don't laugh at Simmons ask a friend to check that you aren't dead.
Mark Simmons: One Linererer is at Banshee Labyrinth from August 4 - 25. Info here.
His Twitter handle is @bigbirdsheeran for obvious reasons.
1. What is the last thing you do before you go onstage (apart from check your flies and/or check your knickers aren't sticking out of your skirt and check for spinach between your teeth)?
I have no idea why but I always tighten my shoelaces just before going on stage.
2. What irritates you?
Well sitting in this Costa the thing that has literally just irritated me whilst standing in a queue for the loo is why do coffee shops nearly always only have one toilet. The whole point of their existence is to manufacture urine. It’s madness.
The above demonstrates why I stick to one-liners and don’t do observational comedy.
3. What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?
I don’t do danger and if I do its definitely an accident. My new Edinburgh show ‘One-linererer’ involves me taking my trousers off and for the first preview I didn’t think it through and wore very loose boxer shorts. There was a slight gasp from a couple of audience members, I then did what anyone would do in this situation, I ignored it and pretended it never happened.
4. What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?
Until recently I thought Macaroni cheese was a type of cheese. Found out the hard way in the dairy aisle of Tesco.
5. What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?
One of the biggest surprises I’ve had was when I arrived at a gig abroad, to be greeted by a huge poster with my name and underneath a 6 foot picture of a black man who turned out to be a Chicago based comedian also called Mark Simmons.
Interview continues here.
