Steve Northcott is a familiar face in the Malaysian stand up comedy scene. Although he is the farthest thing from being Malaysian (he is in fact, Canadian), his jokes insinuate the questionable characteristics of a typical Malaysian no less. His slot at the Time Out Comedy Thursday show this June 7 will mark his last performance in Malaysia before he uproots to Beijing. We bid him farewell with a short chat.
We hear this is your last performance in Malaysia and you'll be leaving the country.
This is true. After four great years of performing comedy in Malaysia, it is time to move on. It is difficult to leave.
With it being your last performance in Malaysia, how are you making Thursday's show special?
I will be retiring my 'Malaysia-motivated' material so I will take the requisite amount of joy in performing these bits or songs one last time. Essentially, it is the crowd that make the night special and I'm looking forward to saying good bye and thank you to everyone. The Malaysian audience is an amazing audience.
What will you miss most about Malaysia?
The traffic. Everyone is so courteous on our finely manicured road system and it takes no time at all to get where you need to go. Especially when it rains. I love the traffic.
You’ve performed with many Malaysian comedians in your time here. Surely you must have a favourite?
What I have enjoyed the most is watching the core group of hard working comics get better over the years. Seeing everyone work so hard at what they love is an inspiring thing and being a part of this community is something that I will never forget when I reflect on my time here. And yes, I avoided the question entirely. Next.
You’re from Canada, home to possibly the world’s most recognised stand up comedian (Russell Peters). Is there as deep an appreciation for Russell as there is here?
I couldn't tell you. I haven't lived in Canada for nine years and Russell Peters was about as well known as Matt Bellotti back then. Peters is an excellent comedian and a global comedy icon and no one can take that away from him. But Canadian comedy is so deep and has such a colourful history that for it to be known specifically through the stand up of Russell Peters is unfair to the Canadian comic greats who came before him. A deep appreciation? I can't say. But people do think he's funny. Canadians are very proud of our comedy. It's up there with hockey and Tim Hortons.
In your opinion, has Malaysian stand up comedy achieved world class standards?
No. I am also assuming that by 'world class' you mean you could take a Malaysian comic and drop him or her in any comedy room in the world whether it be the Edinburgh Fringe Fest or Frank's Comedy Lounge in Toledo, Ohio and have them kill it, night after night. That is extremely hard to do and material needs to be polished and internationally accessible. To be 'world class' takes time. Are the comics in this country great? Some are. Many are good and all of us are working really hard.
What can we do to achieve those standards then?
Who knows? If I had those answers I'd be giving seminars at the Hilton. We live in a world where Russell Peters, who is by no means a ground breaking comedian, is the 'world's biggest' comic and Justin Bieber, who hasn't exactly reinvented the pop wheel, has millions of fans around the globe. No disrespect intended for either artist but I can't explain what makes people special or why people like what other people do. I do know that its an intricate balance of mainstream marketing, a huge helping of luck, a sprinkle of talent and a shit load of hard work.
Catch Steve Northcott sing and talk funny for the last time at Time Out Comedy Thursday this June 7. See listing for more info on ticket purchase. For updates on Steve and his travel series project, visit onthebeatandpath.com
