Myq Kaplan: ‘All Killing Aside’ is on at the Underbelly – Freisian (Bristo Square) during August.
- Tell us about your Fringe show
The show, "All Killing Aside," is about love and death and philosophy and not murdering. It's about truth and kindness and hallucinogenic plant medicines that can reveal the underlying spirit that we all share. It's comedy! Super fun comedy about death. And life. And more. Comedy about the universe, by the universe (as personified by comedian Myq Kaplan [that's me]).
- How does it feel to be playing the Fringe for the first time?
You know how whenever it’s your birthday, people ask you if it feels different, being one year older? And it doesn’t really feel different, because you’re actually only one day older than yesterday. Well, THIS IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM THAT. PERFORMING AT THE FRINGE FOR THE FIRST TIME FEELS LIKE TRULY BEING BORN! FINALLY! It’s like my actual birth was just practice for this, the true experience of a lifetime. I’M FINALLY ALIVE! (Sincerely, I’m very excited.)
- Why did you decide to perform at the Fringe?
I’ve always heard amazing things about the Fringe and thought “I enjoy amazing things, so maybe I’ll like THIS amazing thing.”
- If you were not a performer what would you be doing?
Getting to do what I do is a dream. If I had to be dreaming a different dream? I love writing music, so perhaps I would be a singer-songwriter… though I just realized, I started answering this question sincerely, but apparently what I’m saying is “If I were not a performer, the thing I would probably be is a different kind of performer.”
- How do you prepare for a performance?
Great question, thank you. First, I start doing comedy sixteen years ago. Or it actually starts even before that… First I am born and learn to speak and move (a big step). Second, I start doing comedy (a difficult step). Third, I spend a lot of time being very bad at it (this one’s an easier step). Fourth, I hopefully improve and evolve over the course of time (infinite steps). Fifth, I start meditating and realizing that time is an illusion (there are no steps). Seventeenth, I enter a universal flow state and express gratitude for all that has ever been (all steps are one). Finally, get on stage and realize I’ve forgotten all my jokes.
- Best/worst advice you’ve been given ahead of your debut show?
"It's all about marketing." I'm not sure if this is the best advice or the worst. I'll let you know after the festival ends.
- Favourite thing about being in Edinburgh?
My favourite thing is that it’s new to me! I’ve never been, and so I’m very excited to have experiences I haven’t had before. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A SINCERE ANSWER AND DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY JOKES. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR JOKES STOP LOOKING HERE BUT PLEASE DO COME TO MY SHOW, WHICH WILL CONTAIN MANY JOKES.
- What’s the most Scottish thing you’ve done?
I sincerely don’t know enough about Scottish culture to make a guess at this, and I imagine if I did make an attempt, it would come out sounding insensitive (e.g. one time I scotch-taped a sheep to a kilt), so I’ll just say I’m excited to come to Edinburgh for the first time, which will sincerely be the most Scottish thing I’ve ever done thus far.
- Favourite Scottish food/drink?
Scotch. (Did I get it right? Was this a trick question? I stand by it. Scotch! My favourite food, Scotch!)
- Sum up your show in three words
Kindness. Hilarity. Thinking-Outside-The-Box.
Myq Kaplan: ‘All Killing Aside’ is on at the Underbelly – Freisian (Bristo Square) during August. For tickets, please visit www.edfringe.com
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