Jacqueline Novak: How Embarrassing For Her is on at the Pleasance Courtyard during August. 

  • Tell us about your Fringe show

To be vague, it’s stand up comedy grounded in personal narrative. To be a tad more specific, I’m interested in embarrassment and the different ways we distribute it. What stuff embarrasses us only because we were told to feel that way? What embarrassments might be more worth are time? I don’t want to transcend my embarrassment, but i want to refine it.

The show gets into secondhand embarrassment too, which is kind of a feminist issue to me, because I expend a lot of effort trying to coddle the male ego throughout my life…and day. I want the show to make people feel like they can frame their life how they please...that they get to decide what to be embarrassed about and what to be proud of. I’m a very defensive person, but I think I can use this power for good. I like to come up with reasons why all my so called embarrassing characteristics -- longwindedness, overenthusiasm, saying “like” too much, having soft abdominals, eating in a wolfish style -- are actually strengths. And if I can do it, so can you. So when you think I’ve failed, you can laugh at me. And when you think I’ve succeeded, hopefully it inspires you to do the same. There’s some coming of age blow-job material in there too.

  • How does it feel to be playing the Fringe for the first time?

i’ve wanted to come to the Fringe forever. i’ve been lurking on the website for years. i’m thrilled.

  • Why did you decide to perform at the Fringe?

I like going to a new place for an intense immersive creative experience. performing the same show nightly for a good, solid run is a dream.

  • If you were not a performer what would you be doing?

I sometimes fantasise about life as a monk or cloistered nun—not even joking. I imagine lying in bed under a wool blanket in my small austere quarters, wrestling with big questions on a sleepless night. I am very interested in eating gruel and porridge in silence. I suppose if I didn’t perform, i’d JUST write books. I have written one book - do check it out, it’s called How to Weep in Public: Feeble Offerings on Depression from One Who Knows. Maybe I’d be churning those out faster.

  • How do you prepare for a performance?

I like to sleep in if possible and eat light so I am energised for the show. If I eat too much at lunch, I need another nap before the show. I hate performing on a full stomach! That is my main thing. Otherwise, I try to have a nice day and be in a decent mood. I don’t feel like yoga and meditation and all that is the answer - too much pre show bliss doesn’t feel stimulating enough? If I’m in a bad mood, and I can’t get rid of it, I try to transform that into a spirit of abandon - those weird, bad moods can still produce good shows too.

Sometimes they’re better! I like to talk on the phone with comedy friends before shows, see where they are at. Sometimes, you and a friend are in distant cities, but both in green rooms, preparing to go on. It’s great to be like, “I’m wondering if my stutter is actually a benefit. Perhaps tonight I’ll let i fly.” In a solitary profession, it can do to have these chats.

  • Best/worst advice you’ve been given ahead of your debut show?

Best advice: don’t worry about coming up with stunts to sell tickets, just focus on the show.

Worst advice:come up with a stunt to sell tickets.

  • Sum up your show in three words

Cerebral BlowJob Weirdness

Jacqueline Novak: How Embarrassing For Her is on at the Pleasance Courtyard. For tickets, please visit www.edfringe.com