He does a mean Meatloaf as well some other spot-on rock impersonations. But there's much more to Canadian Sean Cullen, a comedian Herald reviewers consider is possibly the best import at the International Laugh Festival.
He might look like a Springbok prop forward and speak in the sort of clipped tones of someone who was once destined for a life in the theatre (until he was thrown out of acting school), but the Toronto native also possesses a quickfire, surreal wit - especially when his runaway brain is giving his mouth verbal brake failure, or when his "Father Sean" is reading from the little-known book of St Justin.
It's Cullen's first time in these parts. And the next time we see him could be on the small screen, a result of Hollywood approaches with television development deals.
Just time then, for RUSSELL BAILLIE to have a quick chat ...
The musical impersonations - do you pick people you're fans of?
For the most part. My problem is people say "do Celine Dion" and I just can't bear to listen to her. So I don't pay any attention to the way her voice works. I could, I suppose. I don't think of myself as an impressionist per se. I do impressions, but most of them are people I'm fond of. REM I love and Meatloaf - you've got to love him. He's a big foolish man. I have a pretty big like for Morrissey, Billy Bragg, all those extremely earnest people. Nobody ever makes fun of those.
You also seem to have a gift for the tangential ...
Oh. I think it's something you develop over time. I like to keep the show improvised to a certain point because that's the way I keep interested. I see these comics, every gesture is the same, every look. It's all calculated. That is not where I come from at all. I come from the pure joy or fun of doing it.
Ever surprise yourself with what words pop out?
Sometimes I have to laugh at what I've actually said. The thing is I try to just say whatever, but it's hard because sometimes you accidentally say really nasty things and have to justify them. It's weird. One show I was doing with [his pre-solo comedy trio] the Juicepigs, I came out and said, "Hey, everyone, welcome to Ottawa, land of the legless women." And there was like a whole row of people in wheelchairs right in front. You just go, "`Oh, no." For the whole rest of the show you are hated. I don't have anything against them. It's just what came out of my head at the time.
What does one to do get one's mind in such a state?
I don't know what it is but there is something about the adrenalin that gets your mind spinning. I just try to read a lot of different things - history or philosophy or [expletive] thriller novels, whatever you can get. So you have a lot of disparate information in your mind. I love language too. It's more like the sound of what you are saying. When you put weird-sounding words together you get a laugh out of people.
Did the Irish genes help?
Well, I guess there is a humour gene from Irish people. But we're not like Irish immigrants. We were like before the potato famine, 1820s. All my family is from Ireland but from way back. My parents are very funny people but they don't find me that funny I don't think ... but they like it when I do my character, when I dress up like a woman and they think that's hilarious. I look like my mother when I do it.
You've started dabbling in television and Hollywood. But don't most comedians become a pale imitation of their stand-up selves when they get a sitcom?
That's the risk, you know. I love doing what I do but there is no way they would let me do that on TV, and what can you tell them? I don't want to be Mork from Ork. That was pretty much his live show and I don't think that is really acting. If we are going to do a sitcom I'd like to do an actor's role and show that I can do that. In Britain especially, and in America too, if you have a show it just ensures that any time you want to do a live tour, it's sold out. If you go to Edinburgh and say, "I do the pancake cooking show on channel [expletive] it will still be packed. It's weird."
* Sean Cullen is at the Auckland Town Hall's Laugh! Chamber until Saturday.
There's more to Sean than meets the eye
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