| By Drew McCreadie THEY say that humour is the best medicine. Of course that is complete bulls**t – antibiotics are the best medicine (just ask any doctor here in Thailand)! But there are all sorts of health benefits to laughing, such as the release of endorphins (not to be confused with dolphins, which also need to be released). If you laugh hard enough, humour can also cause the release of your bladder (which, like dolphins, makes a splash when released). Laughter boosts the immune system (especially immunity from not laughing), improves brain function (laughing, not being laughed at), and increases the amount of oxygen in your blood, which is probably a good thing. But I am no doctor. And humour can also be used in psychotherapy, as a way of counteracting the increase in blood pressure when you are handed the therapist’s bill. |  |
The most interesting thing about humour as a form of healing, is that for many comedians, performing comedy is basically a cheap form of group therapy. And you, the audience, are the unpaid clinicians.
Comedians are often a bag of broken toys (and by often I mean always). Messed up child-adults, over-laden with baggage, and a bit mad. And they are poor, so they are always looking for a free ride! Performing is a way for them to deal with their issues, to talk stuff out that friends are tired of hearing about, and that therapists charge 2,000 baht an hour to listen to.
Comedians use their three minutes on stage to unload their anxieties and issues all over the audience, and often the reason we, the audience, laughs is because unconsciously we are thrilled that we don’t have the same issues! Comedians feel good because they get stuff off their chests, and we feel good because we get to feel superior to these messed up misfits.
And this should be no surprise: Comedy often comes from suffering. Comedian Steve Allen is credited as saying tragedy plus time equals comedy. (He died way back in 2000, so we can joke about it now.) Comedy has the power to take the power away from stuff that has power over us. In the early days of western theatre, for example, the devil was often the subject of ridicule in mystery plays and morality plays. By laughing at evil, fear diminished, and now the world is perfect. See?
The fact is – and research supports this claim – that humour and laughter are truly beneficial to your health. So is a single serving of alcohol each day, according to some studies and four out of five drunks. Therefore, for the sake of your health, go out, grab a drink, and see a comedy show. There’s one every Friday at the Comedy Club Bangkok. Doctor’s orders!*
(*I am no doctor!)
Comedians are often a bag of broken toys (and by often I mean always). Messed up child-adults, over-laden with baggage, and a bit mad. And they are poor, so they are always looking for a free ride! Performing is a way for them to deal with their issues, to talk stuff out that friends are tired of hearing about, and that therapists charge 2,000 baht an hour to listen to.
Comedians use their three minutes on stage to unload their anxieties and issues all over the audience, and often the reason we, the audience, laughs is because unconsciously we are thrilled that we don’t have the same issues! Comedians feel good because they get stuff off their chests, and we feel good because we get to feel superior to these messed up misfits.
And this should be no surprise: Comedy often comes from suffering. Comedian Steve Allen is credited as saying tragedy plus time equals comedy. (He died way back in 2000, so we can joke about it now.) Comedy has the power to take the power away from stuff that has power over us. In the early days of western theatre, for example, the devil was often the subject of ridicule in mystery plays and morality plays. By laughing at evil, fear diminished, and now the world is perfect. See?
The fact is – and research supports this claim – that humour and laughter are truly beneficial to your health. So is a single serving of alcohol each day, according to some studies and four out of five drunks. Therefore, for the sake of your health, go out, grab a drink, and see a comedy show. There’s one every Friday at the Comedy Club Bangkok. Doctor’s orders!*
(*I am no doctor!)
This month at The Comedy Club Bangkok
• Stand-Up Comedy with Aidan Killian (IRE) and international special guests. He will be joined by Sam Thomas (USA), one of the rising stars of the Cambodian comedy scene, and award-winning San Francisco based comedian Rachman Blake (USA). Fri April 8 at 8pm. B500 in advance. B750 at the door. Includes a drink and drinks specials.
• WHOSE LINE? The Improv Comedy Show. Audience suggestions to fuel the scenes in this hilarious show led by award-winning Canadian comedian Drew McCreadie. Fri April 22 at 8pm. B350 in advance. B500 at the door. Includes a drink and drinks specials.
• Stand-Up Comedy open mic. Open mic stand-up comedy is back with newcomers and Bangkok’s ever more seasoned local comics along with a mystery headliner. Fri April 29 at 8pm. B250 in advance. B350 at the door. Includes a drink and drinks specials.
The Comedy Club Bangkok, Sukhumvit 33/1 above The Royal Oak Pub (Phrom Phong BTS)
www.comedyclubbangkok.com
• Stand-Up Comedy with Aidan Killian (IRE) and international special guests. He will be joined by Sam Thomas (USA), one of the rising stars of the Cambodian comedy scene, and award-winning San Francisco based comedian Rachman Blake (USA). Fri April 8 at 8pm. B500 in advance. B750 at the door. Includes a drink and drinks specials.
• WHOSE LINE? The Improv Comedy Show. Audience suggestions to fuel the scenes in this hilarious show led by award-winning Canadian comedian Drew McCreadie. Fri April 22 at 8pm. B350 in advance. B500 at the door. Includes a drink and drinks specials.
• Stand-Up Comedy open mic. Open mic stand-up comedy is back with newcomers and Bangkok’s ever more seasoned local comics along with a mystery headliner. Fri April 29 at 8pm. B250 in advance. B350 at the door. Includes a drink and drinks specials.
The Comedy Club Bangkok, Sukhumvit 33/1 above The Royal Oak Pub (Phrom Phong BTS)
www.comedyclubbangkok.com
