See you later, Reggie Watts

The shaggy New York comedian Reggie Watts is at the Beursschouwburg this week. Watts will take part in an experimental comedy evening that will also feature Michael Portnoy, Ieva Miseviciute, and Miet Warlop.

Reggie Watts is a comedian who, with a straight face, serves up improvised nonsense accompanied by superb beatbox tunes. An approach that has led to appearances on, for example, Conan O’Brien’s popular late-night talk show Conan. Luckily for us, Watts is quite fond of visiting this side of the pond. Together with Michael Portnoy, Ieva Miseviciute, and Miet Warlop (who will have a residency at the Beursschouwburg in 2013), he will present a full evening show, never seen here before.

Any idea what you will be doing?
Reggie Watts: Well, I got an outline from Michael and Ieva, but nothing is for certain. I only know it is going to be fun and really weird. It is always important to allow the audience to give up on trying to figure out what is going on. Once they give up on that, and are able to just be in the moment and enjoy the ride, it can be the greatest thing. I already worked together with Miet, Ieva, and Michael at De Appel arts centre in Amsterdam and that was a crazy show. We crossed some boundaries there, and hopefully we will also explore some new ground this time.
It is appropriate that we fit into the “I Fail Good” programme, because a lot of risks are going to be taken. Some time ago we also did an experimental comedy camp in Canada with 29 students from different backgrounds, with stuff like video, photography, installations, and sculpture. How Michael and Ieva take everybody beyond the traditional was just ridiculously amazing. They are absolutely fearless about going into some really strange places and destabilising a room in an organised way. People are confused and involved at the same time.

It looks like you have never been doing anything else.
Watts: It is true that even as a kid it was a hobby of mine to imitate all sorts of sounds and create fake languages. I was compelled to do it and that has not really changed.

So you will always be able to come up with new stuff?
Watts: Well, I remember Brian Eno telling me you should always record as much as you can, because it might happen one day that you don’t have that connection any more for a while. So I don’t take anything for granted.

Your improvisations are never fully absurd. They are always based on vague cultural references. Aren’t you surprised that people in Europe understand you so well?
Watts: There’s enough common ground. It is always in a way a reflection of what is going on in the world. And in Belgium I will work with fake languages that have sound characteristics of the French and Dutch languages.

Do you know any Dutch?
Watts: I know godverdomme, alsjeblieft, dankjewel, goeiemiddag, and goeiemorgen. My ex-girlfriend was Dutch and lived in Antwerp. I also have a lot of friends in Amsterdam, a city I fell in love with for the obvious stupid reasons, but also for its architecture, its people, and the hard-core cycling that goes on there. Brussels is newer city for me. Last year I already performed an informal, quick show at the Beurs and I had a really great time.

Alligators: Experimental Comedy Club • 16 & 17/11, 20.30, €10/12, EN, Beursschouwburg, rue A. Ortsstraat 20-28, Brussel/Bruxelles, 02-550.03.50, tickets@beursschouwburg.be, www.beursschouwburg.be