It seems not all comedians are born funny. Before a firestorm of rage-baited comments about the genetic origins of the mythical funny gene and a hearty nature versus trauma – rather nurture – debate on humorous inclinations ensues, premier Australian comedian Demi Lardner can provide proof of the aforesaid statement.
“I wasn't a funny kid,” Lardner states emphatically. “I was a little freak. A shy little freak. Year Six was the time where I was like, ‘let's turn it into being funny instead, because this is torture’.”
Lardner, now a Raw Comedy, So You Think You’re Funny?, Director’s Choice, and three-time Melbourne International Comedy Festival winner, remembers the first time a room full of bellies ached due to choice words well timed.
“It was rough. The teacher couldn't help but laugh because I was a fifth grader saying the word c.... I got really bold at one point, and it gave me the fire to continue being filthy, which is maybe not ideal when you're starting off at 12 years old.”
In the vein of making full rooms laugh, Lardner is hosting 'The Alternative Show', the show where Just For Laughs’ (JFL) takeover of Sydney puts all the comedians it just doesn’t know what to do with.
“Just For Laughs split off the shows,” Lardner explains. “ You’ve got the main shows and then other categories like musical comedy and the ‘alternative’ shows. I've never called myself that. Everybody has told me I am. Every comedian who isn’t alternative thinks that they are and every comedian who is alternative thinks they're not. You know, it doesn't matter,” Lardner laughs.
“With my comedy, it’s just really stupid. If you want to find meaning in it, you can, but it’s just things I think are funny. The audience will either like that or really hate it, which is also fun.”
The show that could be anything will capture the iconic Opera House, taking the fanciest venue in town and filling it with jokes that could make grandma squirm.
“I've done a bunch of stuff at the Opera House. It rocks!” Lardner enthuses. “I'm always like, the staff here are just so nice. No one's getting mad at me. I really love it. It's also quite nice as a night out because you feel fancy.”
'The Alternative Show' sits in good company, with JFL offering multiple shows across its two-week programme featuring the likes of Eddie Izzard, Reggie Watts, and Joel Creasey, among dozens of others.
“I'm a huge comedy nerd, but I almost never watch comedy, because it makes me go out of my mind,” Lardner shares. “But a comedian that I love dearly is Celia Pacquola. She’s in the All Star Gala. It’s annoying to be like, ‘this female comedian is such a sweetheart’, but she is a sweetheart! And a secret gremlin. I’ve heard her say the stupidest, filthiest things. Not only is she a baddie, hottie with a body, she's so funny and cool.”
Having worked in comedy for over a decade, Lardner has seen the ebbs and flows of themes and styles, pointing to a brighter future in comedy’s evolution.
“We're at the end of the era of people thinking that edgy is funny. That's the thing I'm excited about. My friends who are part of the communities that people call slurs, are taking it back.”
“I call now the age of naughtiness. You’re not being a dickhead and punching down. It’s more, I saw this happen, and it’s naughty, with a sense of love.”
Lardner leaves one last tip for becoming the kind of funny person the world needs.
“This is something I've told younger comedians that’s really helpful. When you're starting off, it's good to emulate your heroes, but when you’re doing jokes, take a second to think, is this worth laughing at? For example, a joke like, ''this is my pick-up line. I've got a knife. Get in the car'.”
“Take a step back and think, is that worth laughing at? Do I want to say that or am I filling time? Just have a little squiz at what you're thinking about, and be like, 'if I wasn't me, would I find that funny? Maybe. Maybe not'.”
Demi Lardner plays as part of the Just For Laughs Sydney 'Alternative Show' on 22 November at Sydney Opera House.
