There is a particular kind of delusion required to work in comedy, the sort that tells you to spend money you do not have, back yourself anyway and commit to the bit no matter how unhinged it sounds. For Jenna Suffern, that delusion comes served with a posh accent and the rallying cry of a show that skewers ambition, image and the fine line between confidence and chaos.
"The back story for Lobster In A Glass is that I was at my friend's birthday and I asked them what they wanted to drink. They were taking aggggges to decide so I said in a posh English accent 'what do you want, a bloody lobster in a glass or something?' This then became a bit of a vocal stim for my friend and I and we adopted the mantra of 'fuck it, just order the lobster in a glass'. So when it came time to bring together what the heck this would be about, I realised Lobster In A Glass was perfect since it represents so many different things," she says.
So while living above your means and portraying a life of success is a running theme of the show, Suffern reflects that she too has made impulsive financial decisions in the name of aesthetic. "Last year I bought a $180 bum bag when I had less than $500 in my account. Don’t shop when you're depressed, kids. HOWEVER! I was on a film shoot and used the bum bag to hold sound equipment, so you best believe I claimed it on tax!" she laughs.
Apart from stand-up, Suffern has been the co-producer and co-host of queer comedy room, Two Queers Walk Into a Bar. It's an experience that has shaped her own material, sharpened her wit and ability to view the world a little differently, and almost killed her. "Brendan Hancock and I started 2 Queers after being in comedy for like a month. Which is WILD but I don’t regret it," she tells me. "We wanted a space for queer comedians and audiences to come together and feel safe and queer people are the funniest people out there - probably due to the trauma."
"We were so green when we began hosting this but it helped me to be more confident and be able to switch between producer and performer brains. When you’re producing as well as hosting, a million things could be going wrong backstage but when you step on stage, you have to block it out," Suffern explains. "We liked to open each night with some silly cabaret style skit (again the theatre girl in me). So it strengthened my writing by having to create something new every month. Those early shows were so low pressure and SILLY! Thinking back to them brings me so much pride and joy. Even the time that Brendan accidentally rolled into me and ruptured my ACL, MCL and meniscus in the first 5 seconds. THEATRE! We don’t do them regularly since I moved to Melbourne and Brendan is in Sydney, but starting Two Queers is 10000% the reason behind my success now."
With all the drama happening backstage, I ask Suffern how chaotic is her writing process? Is she a notes app confessional, stage-workshopper, or a chaos-and-see-what-sticks comedian? "My notes app is a MESS! I am a classic think of something and jot it down in notes kind of person, only to then go back at it and wonder 'wtf does that mean?' I don’t know what it is about planes, but the amount of brainstorming I do mid plane ride needs to be studied," she says.
"Once I decipher what I've written down in my notes app, I either write it out in full in my notes app or my laptop. I would love to be one of those comics who can just get up on stage and sees what happens - but I'm too Type A. It’s also the theatre girl in me; I need a script to stick to. I have a rule that I will use a joke three times before deciding if I keep it or if it goes in the bin. It’s so easy to tell a new joke, have it bomb and never want to tell it again. But you have to have faith in yourself!"
Suffern is not pretending to have it all figured out, she is just bold enough to try it anyway. With Lobster In A Glass, she is inviting audiences to lean into the shenanigans with her and have a bloody good laugh while they’re at it.
MICF QUICKFIRE FIVE
1. The most memorable audience reaction I've ever received is the first time I performed an hour of solo comedy and the only people in the audience were these 6 stereotypical blokey straight guys that bought tickets on the door five minutes before the show was to start. I panicked because they’re obviously not my typical audience, but they ended up being one of the best crowds I have ever had. Turns out a story about my lesbian breakup was still relatable to all audiences. I wish I could have them at every show.
2. A totally absurd award I’d win if it existed is most matching tattoos with ex-girlfriends.
3. The worst thing I have ever eaten is... I thought I was straight until I was 23, so I’ll let you use your imagination.
4. One backstage ritual that makes me feel ready to get on stage is Ritalin and Red Bull.
5. If I could swap places with another performer for a day, it would be ... this is so cheesy but I honestly wouldn’t want to. I love my style of comedy and I've been working so hard on trying to not compare my success to other comics, which is so easy to do via social media. So it would just take my progress back! Also, being friends with enough comedians, I know we all struggle with not thinking we are good enough or successful enough, so even if I was to swap bodies with the most successful comic, I reckon there would still be some self doubt there. We’re not well! But like if I had to answer, it would be any straight cis male performer to see what the privilege is like! lol.
SHOW DETAILS
Venue: The Motley Wherehaus, 432 Queen St, Melbourne
Season: 23 March - 5 April | 7:30pm
Duration: 50 minutes
Tickets: $30 Full | $26 Conc
| $22 Previews and Tightarse Tuesday
Bookings: Melbourne International Comedy Festival
No comments:
Post a Comment