New Zealand comic Guy Montgomery is no stranger to making people laugh. But what is it that gets a laugh out of him? “Someone falling over and looking around to see if anyone saw them fall over – and being the one person who saw them fall over and making eye contact with that person,” he laughs. While he might find laughter in the awkwardness of the everyday, he is also inspired by the like-minded comics he surrounds himself with. “Sam Campbell – a Sydney-based comic – both on stage and off. He always makes me laugh. I think it’s because I can’t get a gauge on his personality, so I have no idea when he’s joking or not.
Montgomery co-hosts, with his friend Tim Batt, a successful podcast called The Worst Idea of All Time which has enjoyed millions of downloads. But performing live offers an entirely different experience for him. “Performing for a crowd gives you an immediate gauge on whether you are being funny or not,” he says.
Over the years, Montgomery has found his purpose in this world – to make people laugh. “Stand-up comedy is my absolute favourite thing to do. Sometimes when you are wrestling with a joke or trying to figure out how to make something funny, you can get lost for a bit,” he says. “And then you get up on stage and say the joke, and the room laughs and it was all entirely worthwhile. Comedy certainly kicks you around. One night you’ll feel invincible, another night you’ll wish you studied medicine. It certainly keeps you thinking.”
Montgomery’s is often described as weird. However, it’s not something he actively tries to implant into his work. “Trying to be weird kind of defeats the purpose,” he says. “The weirdest people in the world don’t know they’re weird. To them they are perfectly normal, and that point of difference is what makes them weird.”
Ultimately, Montgomery has no ulterior motives within his show except to bring laughter, and offer the audience a good night out. “Beyond making a room full of people laugh, I don’t think [comedians] have any responsibility to make the world a better place,” he says. “The idea that comedians have to change the way people think is misguided. Some comedians do that very well and other comedians talk about absolute nonsense. I don’t think putting the onus of responsibility on all comedians to fix the world is a very smart thing to do.” Not much is off limits for Montgomery, except for resolutely refusing to turn anyone undeserving into the butt of the joke. It’s an admirable quality. “I don’t have any comedic taboos except for punching down,” he explains. “If I’m not the victim of the joke, it will be someone with higher standing than me.”
By Liza Dezfouli
Venues: Forum Theatre – Ladies Lounge, Forum Theatre – Carpet Room, Forum Theatre – Pizza Room, Cnr Flinders & Russell St, CBD
Dates: March 24 – April 17 (except Mondays)
Times: 6pm (Sundays 6.15pm)
Tickets: $15 – $20
