A Marriage of Inconvenience opens Thursday 20th August at the Etcetera Theatre, joining two best friends who made a pact to get married if they’re single by the age of 40. Learn more about what you can expect:
1: Where did the idea for A Marriage of Inconvenience come from?
Abi: Ever since Harsh and I met in a standup class four years ago, we’ve bonded and supported each other through the messy reality of our lives, relationships and comedy careers. Even if relationships and gigs didn’t work out, we could always count on each other’s support. So when we decided to do a split-bill show together, it felt fitting that it should be a kind of marriage — perhaps not the one we imagined, but the one we’re grateful to have in our lives.
2: You’ve built a show around friendship. How similar is your friendship in real-life?
Harsh: I think it’s the same. If I were to have a lavender marriage with someone it would be Abi. She’s the person I call when I’m happy, the person I call when I’m sad, the person I share the address of a dodgy hookup with so that she can send the police if I go missing. She’s also the first person who hears all of my jokes. So it was quite easy to turn this into a show.
3: Abi, how do feminism and musical comedy complement each other?
Abi: A lot of my comedy hinges on the tension between expectations and reality — the expectations we place on women as a society, vs the reality of women’s actual experiences. Comedically, music is an incredibly efficient way to set expectations. Just the opening chords of a well-known song can instantly communicate a mood, a place, a time, and a character. I like to use music to set an expectation, then surprise the audience by subverting it. Music is also a great tool to break down the barriers between the comedian and the audience. Feminism is a controversial topic that some audiences disagree with. But by playing a catchy or familiar tune, the audience is already tapping their toes and enjoying themselves before I even deliver the feminist jokes.
4: Harsh, how do you approach discussing family expectations?
Harsh: The same way we discuss everything — a presentation at the quarterly board meeting, AKA the family WhatsApp call. Family expectations aren’t so bad now. People assume my parents mellowed as I got older. They didn’t. I just moved 4632.86 miles away. That’s the secret. A 5.5 hour timezone difference!
5: What are you most looking forward to about touring this show?
Harsh: Honestly, it’s bringing the show in front of different people. There’s a joy in going to a place you haven’t been before, bringing in absolute strangers into a room and having them laugh and have a good time. Also, I get to use my railcard. This year my railcard has paid for itself!
6: What has been the most enjoyable part about creating A Marriage of Inconvenience?
Abi: It’s been a wonderful excuse to spend more time with my best friend! Having a mock-wedding ceremony in front of friends, family and strangers night after night feels like a real testament to our (platonic) love. So please RSVP, and come down to a wedding you’ll never forget!
A Marriage of Inconvenience opens Thursday 20th August at the Etcetera Theatre. Many thanks to Abi and Harsh for answering our questions. Book your tickets here!
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