10 Quick Qs – Neal Portenza
Josh Ladgrove aka Dr. Professor Neal Portenza aka Jesus the Christ is bringing his shows to the Adelaide Fringe – one sacrilegious, and one just a bit silly. We asked him the tough questions.
1. Describe your show Twitter-style, 140 character or less!
Hullo my #name is neal #portenza. #youonlyliveonce My show can’t be @described in #140 characters because it’s a bizarre journey through ti
2. Do you feel pressured to be funny at things like family gatherings?
I feel pressure just to be at family gatherings. I don’t feel pressure to be funny because my family are all very unstable people with a myriad of undiagnosed emotional ailments, so the joke is on them. Actually, I have been making the same joke at Ukrainian Easter for about 5 years, and no one pulls me up on it because they have short memories (see above). It involves me impersonating a Ukrainian priest whilst handing out bits of stale bread meant to represent the transubstantiated body of Christ. Take my word it’s very funny, if derivative and tired.
3. Your alter-ego Josh Ladgrove is doing a controversial show about Jesus. How do you feel about Christians?
I think Christians make great publicists and marketing agents, with very reasonable rates. I say this because their actions sold out this other show in a matter of days. In general though, I think most Christians are nice people with good hearts and lungs also.
4. What was the most challenging aspect about preparing your show for Fringe?
Not preparing it. The challenge will come when it starts to develop (or devolve) on stage.
5. If you could be any character in any movie, who and what would it be?
I would be Trinity from The Matrix because I love it when Keanu Reeves kisses me.
6. Who’s your biggest comedic idol?
ShaunMicallefBertNewtonGrahamKennedyLanoandWoodleyJulianBarratRowanAtkinson. That guy. I’m sorry there are no females in my list. I love so many female comics, particularly Ellen DeGeneres, but my idols growing up were all men for whatever reason.
7. Is heckling allowed at your shows?
It’s encouraged. Sometimes even it’s compulsory.
8. What is your ideal breakfast?
A can of Mother and a Cadbury Crème Egg.
9. What is the biggest accolade you’ve received from one of your shows?
Well, I won best comedy at Melbourne Fringe in 2012, but in reality it’s when a guy at the Comedy Festival with Down Syndrome made my show so special and stayed around afterwards and gave me a hug. I was having a shitty time and he made it all worth it with a simple hug.
10. Do you have a message for Tony Abbott in case he is reading?
Yes: 10010110101111001010 10101 01011101011000010 010011111 01010 110. He’ll understand that because he’s not human.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzUcWeUTlLA&w=400]
