Aspen - The US Comedy Arts Festival 05

The US Comedy Arts Festival 05 ran for 5 days February. London comedy doyenne Hils Jago was there...

Amidst snow covered mountains and so much fur that even a vegetarian becomes desensitised, the US Comedy Arts Festival 2005 took place over the past five days. It is an industry affair, with sponsors and industry/television folk en masse, outnumbering a handful of comedy fans, plus numerous locals and affluent visitors to Aspen which is a high altitude, high cost (tolerable for Brits due to the exchange rate) ski resort in the Rockies.

Many performers and festival visitors take the opportunity to ski, despite the various risks including altitude sickness – those seen on the slopes included William Burdett-Coutts of Riverside Studios and Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms, and Eddie Izzard. Indeed Garry Trudeau, creator of Doonesbury strip cartoon, received his Freedom of Speech award lying in a cradle on stage at the St Regis Ballroom, having broken his collarbone two days earlier while skiing.

Highlights from a Brits perspective were Eddie Izzard’s second, almost impromptu show after the organisers allowed so many sponsors and industry execs into his original billed show, that over 100 ticket-holders overflowed the auditorium and had to watch the show on two televisions in the Wheeler Opera House lounge, and another 150 people were turned away despite having purchased tickets. When he was told about this in the dressing room after the show Eddie arranged with the Festival organisers to do another show for people who had an unused ticket from the original show, with remaining seats free to anyone who came along. The second show closed the festival for many of us and was fabulous with Eddie relaxed and on good form, in contrast to the gig that had been hard work two nights earlier when the majority of the audience had been industry - everyone around performance knows what a difference that makes to the atmosphere - rather than fans, friends and fellow comedians.

A true delight to Brits and other comedians was Stewart Lee (co-writer/creator of Jerry Springer, the Opera) who was on excellent form and looked good, relaxed, accomplished and as if it was hugely enjoyable. His material, style and delivery went over the heads of many Americans even including industry (it was a brave programming choice) … those Americans who got it, not surprisingly loved him. Other comedians who perform in the UK who were getting industry interest following their performances in Aspen, include Australian Adam Hills, Irish American Des Bishop, Londoner Simon Evans, and the Kiwi duo Flight of the Conchords who won Best Alternative Comedy award (an overnight success, not – they were an underground hit of the Edinburgh Fringe in 2002, won Perrier newcomer in 2003 and meanwhile had performed extended sets at my comedy club, AmusedMooseSoho)

Importantly other elements included in this Festival are comedic theatre pieces and comedy film – the programme of short films from around the world is always a delight, with images haunting for months or years to come. Your correspondent is unaware of any awards for Brits in either area, though the film awards presentations are being made while I write before leaving town. British Shorts highlight was Brand Spanking, an exceptional animation with an impressive voice cast including Prunella Scales, Mariella Frostrup, Mark Lawson, Andrew Marr and Floella Benjamin, which was directed by John-Paul Harney (College Competition - National Film and Television School).

But now it’s time to check whether the airport is snowbound! If not, I’ll be there to catch up with you all on Tuesday at FringeReport Awards.

Hils x

END

(c) Hils Jago 13 February 2005

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