comedy feature
Tim Vine: Punslinger
ThreeWeeks’ showdown with the quick-firing comedian
Jokes. Lots and lots of jokes. And also a lot of stupidity. Stupid songs, stupid stories and stupid jokes.” Fringe veteran Tim Vine’s latest show may be one of the Festival’s most simple to describe this year, but its simplicity (and stupidity) shouldn’t detract from the effort made by one of the Festival’s most consistently popular performers.
“It is all planned,” explains Tim. “I’ve spent many an hour wandering around a field back home trying to get all these different jokes and puns to stay in there.” And there’s a lot to cram in; he holds the word record for the most jokes told in an hour, a staggering 499. Expect Tim’s show to consist of an hour of mercilessly funny quips and one liners along the lines of “velcro; what a rip-off,” all told with such childlike enthusiasm you can’t help but be caught in the absurdity and laugh along.
Making his jokes the star of the show and leaving aside any personal agenda makes for a refreshing alternative. “In hindsight,” says Tim, “I have tried to look back and imagine if I did start out like that as some form of protest. But I really think it’s just my natural act. My comedy heroes are all people who are just fun comics. But I’m also a fan of people like Jeff Green, who do try and put some meaning into their act. There will always be a place for politics in comedy. It wouldn’t work if everyone put on the same performance as me. It’d be disastrous for my career for a start!”
This year marks Tim’s 15th year since his Fringe debut. “That was just a supporting slot, though,” he says. “My first full hour was in 1995, when I managed to win the Perrier Best Newcomer award. Things have just got so much bigger since then, of course. There’s just so many shows. I remember in 1995 there was the odd corridor you could walk down and there wouldn’t be anyone telling a joke or performing a play, but now they’re just everywhere.”
One other change seen this year is the decision taken by the Fringe’s four biggest venues to distinguish themselves from the rest of the Fringe with their own Edinburgh Comedy Festival. But does such a commercial venture concern Tim? “If it’s something that’s going to turn out to affect the person who’s toiled over their show for ages, and makes it harder for them to get that break, then it’s defeating the real nature of stand-up comedy. It always works best when it’s not such a big event. There’s a promoter I know in London who puts on shows, and there’s only about 15 people in the audience, but I still enjoy doing them. There’s just zero pressure, and it’s the natural environment for comedy; just one bloke, on-stage, trying to show off.”
But what’s Tim’s tip for the Fringe? “I have very good answer for that actually, and it’s my sister’s show. It’s called ‘The Rules of Drama and Suspense with Bronya and Siony’ and it comes highly recommended.”
With his last words reserved for his family, Tim comes across as one of the most humble comedians you’d hope to meet, without a trace of the self-importance displayed by many of his colleagues. And with his packed schedule seeing him continue his Punslinger tour after August, as well as his perpetually successful festival runs, Tim proves that there’ll always be room for the traditional jester in modern comedy.
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Tim Vine's show 'Punslinger' was on at the Pleasance Courtyard.
published: Oct-2008
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