Eric Lampaert talks about his new show Laughing Horse.
1 Tell us about your Fringe show
It’s an exploration of alien-hood. I’m a Franco-British weirdo now married to an American. Immigration has dubbed me an ‘alien of extraordinary ability’. Alien as in foreign. Alien as in different. I’m not comfortable on this planet. So I explore the possibility of us leaving Earth.
2 Best thing about the Fringe?
It’s basically Fresher’s Week for comedians. All of us touring for 11 months, possibly not seeing each other, until this one month when we’re all together showing off our year’s work and getting drunk.
3 Worst thing about the Fringe?
Same as above.
4 How many years have you been coming to the Fringe?
I’ve been doing stand up for eight years. I think I’ve been up every year since in some way. First year I worked in a bar. I still think that was my best year.
5 Favourite Fringe venue?
The City Café does amazing Nutella waffles. And it just so happens that’s where my show is… Coincidence? No. I love those waffles. I worked my whole show around this snack. I don’t care if nobody comes. I’ll just eat waffles and cry.
6 Best Fringe memory?
I’m married now. I don’t think I can share this memory.
7 Best heckle?
There’s a pretty grotesque creature underneath my beard, so when I was all shaved (or when I couldn’t grow one) I had an array of heckles… “You look like Narnia”… Not a character from Narnia. The whole of Narnia", “Olive from Popeye”, which is frustratingly accurate. My therapist has managed to make me forget most of them so leave me alone!
8 Craziest on stage experience?
It was a few years back. I was MC and one man in the audience was on his bachelor party. This man had terminal cancer. His mates were telling me I could make fun of him, but I just couldn’t. I didn’t know how to do it in a tasteful way. But to do nothing would be to ignore him and his struggle. And it’s his stag do! I have to give him a hell of a night!
So at the end of the show, his best man rolled him on stage and I gave him a striptease to Beyoncé’s Single Ladies. I got dangerously naked and made him drink tequila from my leg like Santanico Pandemonium in From Dusk Till Dawn. It was so disgusting. I had to use his purple wig to hide my manhood.
At the end, I told him that whatever happens next can only be good as he just experienced Hell. It was an awesome night. His friends and family kept me up to date with him. He got married. It was a beautiful day. He sadly passed away not long after.
9 What’s on your rider?
Black rhino horn. Venues are starting to struggle with this rider, which frankly is unacceptable.
10 How do you wind down after a show?
I snort the rhino horn, follow one audience member home and watch them through the window till I fall asleep in their garden.
11 What do you love about Scotland?
It’s very close to England. Ha! Right? No, but seriously, I have never been in a fight with a Scottish person. I like that about them. Peaceful people.
12 What do you like about Edinburgh?
The expensive rent during the festival. On top of venue rent, flyers, posters, PR, registration, etc… I think, what could really help me empty the bank account? Luckily, the landlords hike up the price, so we make no money. And yet we keep coming back. Like an abusive relationship. It’s sad.
13 What kind of jokes do a Scottish crowd seem to respond to?
Anything against the former state of Yugoslavia. They go bonkers for that stuff.
14 Favourite Scottish food/drink?
Haggis milkshake
Eric Lampaert will perform Laughing Horse at City Cafe until August 28.
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