Steven Wright's brand of comedy doesn't look especially hard. It's basically just him holding forth with a series of bemused observations in a monotone that is the very definition of "deadpan."
But there's an alien vibe to the whole thing, as if Wright just teleported in from another galaxy and is reporting back on the absurdities he has witnessed. Hilariously surreal, his observations amass into a cumulative Zen genius that can stop you dead in your tracks:
Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film.
If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?
Support bacteria - they're the only culture some people have.
Wright has put out albums, acted in movies and even won an Academy Award (for his 1988 short film "The Appointments of Dennis Jennings"). But after three decades, he still mostly does live stand-up. He doesn't see that changing, either, and it is to his good fortune that the world keeps right on serving up material.
We chatted by phone in advance of Wright's performance tonight at Durham's Carolina Theatre.
Q: What is it about stand-up that keeps you doing it after 30 years?
I like doing all kinds of things, but stand-up to a live audience has a vibe to it that I really like. Writing the material, figuring out what will work and doing a show in front of a live audience is probably the main thing.
Q: Do you still get stage fright?
I still get a little anxious before I go on. No matter how many times you've done it, it's not a normal thing to do - try to make people laugh for 80 minutes. I'm used to being out there, but I'm never completely relaxed. Part of the excitement is that it could go wrong so easily.
Q: Where do you keep your Oscar?
It's on a table I work at in my living room. Sometimes other people want to pick it up. It's a weird thing to have, something you mainly just see on TV, odd to have in your house. I'm even used to it by now, but it's still bizarre.
Q: If you hadn't gone into comedy, what do you think you'd be doing?
Maybe a deejay or something in advertising, where I could use my imagination. I feel lucky I get to do this for my living.
Q: You really seem as deadpan offstage as you are onstage. Ever think about giving manic a try, just to see what happens?
(laughing) That's funny, no one has ever asked me that before. But no, I haven't. Maybe I should try that for a year. It would be interesting for them, and for me.
Q: Does material just come to you, or do you have to sit and scribble in a notebook?
It kinda just comes to me as I wander through the world. I'll see a sign or have a discussion with someone or read a book, and come across a word I normally wouldn't. I can't sit down and write jokes on purpose, so I'm mostly just reacting to the world. The effort is in the organizing and memorizing and weeding out what doesn't work. That part of it doesn't just happen. I throw out three jokes for every one that makes it in. So yeah, about one out of four makes it.
Q: Do people approach you in public expecting a performance?
They don't expect a show. Sometimes they'll point out a joke they like. Most times they just say hello or say they're a fan. Everyone is generally very nice. Nobody's been not nice in a long time. The only time that ever really happens is if someone is drunk.
Q: What's the most catastrophic show you've ever had?
It was when I was starting out, early days, at this disco club that decided to have comedy one night a week. So me and two other comedians drove out there, 40 minutes outside Boston. It wasn't specifically a disco, but they played music for people to dance to and it had one of those mirror balls that goes around. Then suddenly they shut the music off, brought a microphone onto the floor and we were supposed to go out and do the comedy. Now it's one thing to do comedy, but when the audience doesn't know there's gonna be comedy, it's not good. That's the only time I've ever just walked off. After a couple of minutes, I threw the mike behind me and walked off.
Q: What's the best and worst thing about what you do?
The best thing is making a living from my imagination, having people like what you create. I feel lucky for that. I would say the worst part is the traveling, which can be draining. I like to create. I do paintings, and I write serious music. I play guitar and I do some crazy songs, but I like doing real songs also. I've had no training other than some painting classes in high school.
Q: You had a 22-year gap between your first and second album. Might you do the next one a little sooner?
Yes. I think I'll do the next one in 19 years.
