, On stage A LIFE AT SEA
This month our very own Mark Ritchie writes on the entertainers who have made a life out of raising laughs at sea. Those with funny bones who venture on to the stages of the big ships must know what they are doing more than ever in these days of political correctness and suggestions of a censorious approach from some companies and their cruise directors.
This publication has supporters and subscribers who travel the world trawling for laughter in some of the most impressive cruise ship theatre venues and comedy clubs to be found anywhere in the world. To name but a few, we have subscribers such as Herbie James, Scotty Miller, Mike Sealey and Christopher Gee, who all know their business and spend much of the year on the oceans spreading the happiness by raising the laughs. The question is how careful and clever do comedy performers are, to be to keep everyone happy on the ships?
We caught up with the afore mentioned Ipswich based funnyman Scotty Miller while he was briefly in-port on the Greek holiday Island of Mykonos. Appearing recently on the Marella TUI, Scotty told me he was performing two shows a night. He said; ‘At this time of year there are a lot of junior cruisers on-board. I perform a family show and a late-night (adults only) cheeky show’. Scotty added; ‘On the adult show I try to gage the audience to see how I can please most of the audience, while at the same time remembering that it is not stand-up in an army-barracks’.
Media stories involving comedians on ships being moaned and groaned about by annoying and self-entitled ‘Karen’s’ and those brought up surrounded by all manner of ‘wokery’, are spreading like wildfire. In the final analysis getting laughs is a very serious business. One comedian who has not cruised for some years told me that he had turned down recent flattering offers from two highly prestigious companies. The funny man who shall remain anonymous, feared ageism or regional stereotyping. Although he says he has managed to work in some new and original material into the fabric of his act, which he had tried out successfully at what he described as ‘a couple of friendly venues’. He was still reluctant to venture back up the gangplank. Stating his reason for deciding not to get his feet wet again, the comedian told me: ’A cruise ship is not a happy place for a comedian to hang around on, once you have been perceived as dated and old-fashioned. I would rather not put myself through all that again’.
Comedy performer Herbie Adams certainly knows his way around the cruise ship comedy scene and he expresses an insightful view. Herbie said: ’This is an interesting topic, especially in today’s climate. I believe, any topic can still be addressed, It is just a matter of how the topic is dealt with. Nasty intent towards nasty people such as Hitler for example is and should always be ok. Laughing at bad stuff is a healthy release. Nasty intent to those who do not deserve it not ok.
The comedy balancing act is something which comedy performers at sea will be familiar with. Back in my own days of working on ships, one cruise director told me, on comedy material, before my first show that, if in doubt I should leave it out. Sound advice especially these days for sure!
