A dose of humour for troubled times
By Paul Lambis
Mark Twain said, “Humour is the great thing, the saving thing after all. The minute it crops up, all our hardnesses yield, all our irritations and resentments flit away, and a sunny spirit takes their place.” He is certainly not wrong. Humour may very well be the great thing, especially during a global pandemic. It is definitely a coping mechanism and an important part of both mental and physical health.
Humour improves people’s overall quality of life. Researchers have found that people who score highly in certain types of humour have better self-esteem, more positive effect, greater self-competency, more control over anxiety and better performance in social interactions. There is no doubt that humour is a life skill that everybody needs, particularly during difficult and challenging times.
The US physician who was the inspiration for the Robin Williams film Patch Adams will do anything to elicit a soothing laugh. His job is to love and be affectionate, to help those who are suffering. With a bright, multi-coloured outfit and the round, red nose of a clown, Hunter Adams continues to visit children, youths and adults who suffer from cancer, making them laugh, and helping them forget their illness for a while.
Humour is certainly a connection. We use it to escape the world; we use it to confront the world. We use it to speak uncomfortable truths and disarm people. Moreover, we use it to break down barriers and unite us in our experiences of the world and one another.
Opinion on what can be classified as humour is highly divided. What is funny for some could be lame or objectionable for others. Dark humour aside, my first gigs as an aspiring stand-up comedian helped cultivate my own sense of humour that seemed to resonate with my paying audience – who came out of their own volition. A mix of self-assertive and self-deprecating humour, I was humbled by the packed room of laughter that inspired me to pursue comedy at a crucial point in my life.
As web television host of Culturescope I am often in a room interviewing a local household name or engrossed in deep conversation with internationally known celebrities through a cloud-based video conferencing service. Of all the music artists, authors, movie directors, actors, celebrity cooks, sports personalities, politicians and business entrepreneurs, the knights in shining armour are the stand-up comics who seem to lower our stress levels, and help us see the world through their eyes.
Drawn to him by his comfortable yet magnetic presence, Canadian-born Angelo Tsarouchas has an instant likeability that continues to wow his audiences all over the world. Pulling no punches, Angelo delights in taboo subjects, using well-known phrases in everyday Greek that make no sense. His quips and jokes, inspired by the world of relationships and everyday life, are unique and endless. Tsarouchas believes that “humour is so popular in the world, because it may be our only response to the difficulties we face on a daily basis. It is like medicine for our wounds.”
An innovator of Greek comedy, and one who has graced the entire planet with his critically acclaimed comedy series Growing up Greek in America, Basile Katsikis’ act caters to both Greeks and non-Greeks, making crowds forget their problems one stage at a time. Basile prides himself on how he does not depend on curses to make a joke. Even more so, he banks on his mannerisms and facial expressions which cause more laughter than his jokes.
Back on the home front, I caught up with Peter Kypri (better known as comedian Cypriot Smurf and his alter ego Souvlaki) over the summer, whose recent visit to Australia sparked a career in stand-up comedy. Born in England, and living in Cyprus, Peter’s video skits have gone viral and are being shared countless times on social media.
One thing he has always been conscious of is ensuring all his jokes are carried out with respect, and his love for his country is translated through his work. When asked about his advice for aspiring comedians, Peter said, “There is so much room for more comedians that can make people smile and laugh, especially with all the things that are going on in the world now.”
A resident of Mazotos, Stevie Georgiou is another homegrown comedy genius that has taken the internet by storm. Stevie classes himself as a magic mix of Brummie, Cypriot and working class culture all into one giant melting pot. Hysterically funny, his career does not look like it is going to slow down anytime soon. “With a country that is as wonderfully crazy as ours, there is loads of material to get stuck in and make people laugh,” he says.
As we say a proper farewell to 2020, I have decided to refrain from making any New Year’s resolutions. Besides, most of my resolutions this year ended in failure. With so much power to heal and renew, a good dose of humour is all I need to enhance my relationships, and support both my physical and emotional health. Best of all, this priceless medicine is free.