Painting the Town

I don’t think most people are exactly screaming for British imports like warm beer and Lily Allen, but I’m fully convinced that everybody needs a periodic dose of British comedy. And since I don’t have a television and have just about worn down my Monty Python collection, I can’t tell you how excited I am that a British entertainment company has decided to set up shop in Prague.

Baby Blue Banana, an agency which specializes in bringing entertainment across Central Europe, has set up a monthly comedy gig at Propaganda Pub, where they’ll be bringing on comedians from the British agency Mirth Control.

Schulte-Loh is performing at Propaganda

The first gig was last month, and this month, the show is on Oct. 21 with comedians Benjamin Crellin and Christian Schulte-Loh. Granted, neither of them are British – Crellin is from New Zealand and Schulte-Loh is German – but the managing director of the agency Howard Cohen assured me they were known names in the British comedy circuit.

This is where I’m not going to be of much help though – I’ve never seen either of these comedians, so I can’t honestly say what they’re all about. But I’ll try to give you an idea based on the press release…

Crellin’s comedy is described in the agency release as being sort of dark, and having “amusing satirical tone that resonates from his incredibly twisted social conscience,” with which he delivers “slick one-liners and intelligent observations that explore everything from religion and race through to conflict and sexuality.”

Schulte-Loh’s comedy style isn’t really described in the release – but it lists some festivals and prominent comedy stages in the UK that he’s pranced on – so I imagine he’s got something going for him.

Either way, if you Google these guys, it’s for certain they are established comedians, so if you’re traumatized from some awkward open-mic night you went to in the basement of some bar, I wouldn’t worry that this is any repeat of that.

“We’re able to get quite big name performers to perform for smaller audiences and smaller fees than they would accept in the UK because the attraction to perform in Prague –  it’s quite unique for them,” Cohen assured me.

He added that after some time, the agency would try getting some locals up on stage as well, whether they are Czech or expats of some sort (who can tell jokes in English), and might also launch some other entertainment around the city, like music shows and theatre.

My last question for Cohen during our conversation was rather pointed, but I feel it necessary based on awkward experiences of trying to watch Fawlty Towers with an increasingly irritated French lady (my Mom) as a kid – how certain was he that British humor would fly off the island?

Propaganda Pub

“The concept of British comedy travels pretty well – on the other hand I would also say we are very careful when we’re dealing with guys at Mirth Control to choose the right comedians with the right humor that will translate internationally,” he said, citing difficulties with local comedians at their Hungary gigs, because apparently no matter how well Hungarian comedians speak English, can only make Hungarians laugh. “We’re dealing with 20 different nationalities in an audience, and there’s just as much of a difference between British and American humor.. I would recommend to anybody to give it a try, and don’t make any assumptions about cultural references because you can be certain what you expect to get, you won’t get.”

What: Comedy nights hosted by Baby Blue Banana

When: Oct 21 starting at 7:30 – then check the site for further dates

Where: Propaganda Pub at Michalská 12

Cost: 250 Kč per person or 1,000 Kč for 5, if purchased in advance. Advance tickets can be purchased from the venue or at the door the night of the show.