Abnormally Funny People

September is looming. Here in the Disabled Persons Railcard office we're rushing to finish the new version of Rail Travel Made Easy, the leaflet that tells the world about the Railcard and rail travel accessibility. 

As our designer keeps reminding me, "yesterday" is not a deadline any man can meet. But he's doing his best and things are on track. This year the leaflet is going to look very different because this year the Disabled Persons Railcard is sponsoring a run of shows at the Soho Theatre by the comedy company Abnormally Funny People.

In return the members of Abnormally Funny People have not only helped us develop a new look for Rail Travel Made Easy, they will also feature throughout its pages. They've got one or two other exciting things lined up for Railcard holders too which we're itching to tell you about...

But that will have to wait until the proof-reading is over.

Until then we'll just have to scratch and ask  Steve Best, one of the Abnormally Funny People ensemble, what he and his comrades in comedy are up to... 

1. What is Abnormally Funny People all about?

It’s all about love... and other stuff. Abnormally Funny People is about a group of disabled comedians and a ‘token’ non-disabled comedian getting it on and being funny, making you laugh, tickling your funny bone, wetting you knickers... the list is endless.

2. Which comedians are in the current line-up?

We don’t have a current line up as we quickly chop and change to see fit, and sometimes change and chop to see Kwikfit, although we never advertise, except for the Disabled Persons Railcard. What’s he on about? Answers on a postcard and send to Devon.

3. Who is the funniest?

Me, and sometimes the other one or two or three... comedy is so subjective... me still.
 

4. What would you say to people who say that disabled people being humorous about disability is like black people making racist jokes about black people?

I’d get all confused and say, ‘I’m all confused,’ and buy them ten Digestive biscuits and dare them to eat them all at once without drinking a glass of water so they would stop asking me confusing questions.

5. Monty Python or The Goodies? If you had to have just one of these on DVD player on the AFP tour bus, which would you chose?

Monty Python. I’d love to get a tour bus... or a tour train.

6. Does the range of disabilities represented in AFP limit the range of venues at which the company can perform? And if so, how does AFP get round these problems?

Yes (wow, a sensible answer). And no, in that venues will have to change, and if we were to do a tour then we would pick the venues that are accessible already... and it’s like a cactus walking a tightrope (silly answer)

7. Which AFP member would win the award for the “Best Response to a Heckle”? What was the heckle? And what was the response?

I’m afraid I do not know the answer to this one... but I heard a story that happened in the Birmingham Glee Club (a great comedy venue) just a month or so after 9/11. An American comic was performing but not doing very well. Someone in the audience in a strong Brummy accent heckled him, ‘You’re sh*t.’ The American comic became agitated and called out, ‘Hey buddy, the last time someone shouted out stuff at me a few days later they got killed on 9/11, so just watch it.’ There was a slight pause in the audience and then the same heckler with the strong Brummy accent shouted back, ‘I’ll take my chances, you’re still sh*t.’
 

Or another one (not so rude) – A comedian at Up The Creek in Greenwich, London (A feisty comedy club – where I met my wife), was on stage being very politically correct, mentioning that he doesn’t do any racist or sexist jokes, in fact any jokes that could have an ‘ist’ at the end. He then did a joke about the weather and someone in the audience shouted out ‘Meteorologist’.

8. Any rail journeys AFP would like to recommend?

The one that gets you home and tucked up in bed with a warm cup of whiskey. Also the London to Edinburgh journey as this was the start of AFP’s showbiz journey as we travelled there for the festival in 2005, and have never looked back.

9. If AFP could improve one thing about rail travel what would it be?

Too many questionnaires.

10. Any advice for Disabled Persons Railcards holders who are about to embark on a career in comedy?

There is a much quoted quote although I do not know by whom that goes, and I paraphrase, ‘If you can just make one person laugh in the audience then... you must be really crap’. Advice would be to just get out there and have a go, be brave, step out on to the middle rail (not literally)...

11. Where can we see you next?

Me personally, you can see me in your back garden around 6pm admiring your conifers... but Abnormally Funny People’s next ensemble gig is at the Soho Theatre in London on Friday the 9th October... (Sponsored by the Disabled Persons Railcard – Box Office 0207 478 0100). Come along, get a third off, bring a friend for a third off too (only joking – wow, that Disabled Persons Railcard talk is catchy).