Previews: Foreign Imports

Charlyne Yi - ...Dances on the Moon

At 24 years old, Yi is something of a trailblazer. Her debut film Paper Heart impressed judges at Sundance and her memorable appearance in Knocked Up has ensured critical attention.

Not content with straight standup, this new wave American comic works magic with music, games and audience participation.

With sweet songs about love, Yi promises to give you some sugar without being saccharine. In the unlikely event her feel-good comedy leaves a bad aftertaste, free breath mints can be found at the door!

 

Henning Wehn – My Struggle

Despite his preference for wearing a stopwatch and an extremely well-maintained website, don’t expect Wehn's humour in My Struggle (yes, that's Mein Kampf in English) to conform to national stereotypes.

The self-styled German comedy ambassador has a distinctly British take on standup, having honed his skills in the UK to improve his English. Be sure to heckle him in German to make him feel at home.

You may recognise him from Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle but it's uncertain whether he will make the Fatherland proud – even if he does model Tyrolean headgear and a cardigan with great aplomb.

 

Giacinto Palmieri – ... Is Trying to be Italian

Like many standup comics, this Hackney Empire 2010 finalist likes to ask questions, and like the best standups, he actively avoids answering them.
Refusing to simply accept that ‘Italians do it better’ or that being born and bred in Italy compromises his British citizenship, Palmieri seeks to challenge ideas about national identity.

This entails an excursion into cultural and linguistic differences. If phrasal verbs don’t fill you with mirth, have no fear; Palmieri has plenty of material to work with in the form of the inimitable Silvio Berlusconi and, of course, the Mafia.