Ahead of their third Edinburgh show, Emma McAlpine chats to downbeat sketch group Two Episodes of MASH about confusing hecklers, meeting Larry David and working with Stefan Golazewski.
So Two Episodes of MASH, are you big fans of the sitcom? Did you reject any other names for being too ridiculous?
We are big fans of MASH the sitcom. Hot lip Hollahan helped Joe through his teenage years but the reason we are called Two Episodes of MASH is because Joe’s real name is Ron Episode and Diane’s is Diane Mash. Others names we were going to use were Tusk, Manhood, Knackers Yard, Mush and The Beatles.
You’ve both concentrated on your sketch act at Edinburgh since 2009, are you still performing stand-up at the moment?
We are both definitely still doing stand-up. It’s something we both enjoying doing and we will be doing as much as possible in Edinburgh. Joe is particularly proud of his Penguin material and Diane is tinkering with some material about forcing hair into parts of her tiling where the grouting has come away.
Do you find sharing a stage is more fun?
Performing together is more fun we think. If you have a shit gig you can laugh it off and if you have a good gig you can celebrate together with a light lunch.
What do you think each other’s best comic skill is?
Joe: I think Diane’s clearly a fantastic comic actor but she also has a brilliant dry wit. However, her main strength is in mixed martial arts.
Diane: Joe oozes comedy genius out of every pore. I'm always impressed with how he can instantly come up with the funniest word or phrase for any given situation. I just wish he wouldn't breathe so loud.
Your delivery style is refreshingly different from most sketch groups in that you’re quite low-key. Does that tend to attract confused hecklers?
I think we definitely confuse people so much so that they usually can’t be arsed to heckle.
What kind of sketches can we expect in your 2010 show?
This years sketches involve (amongst other things) crumpets, Vimto and if all things go to plan a cameo from Steve Martin (one of those is a lie).
This year you’ve got Stefan Golaszewski directing you, what has he been getting you to work on?
Stefan has been amazing. He has made us think differently about everything we do and he has given us more confidence. All our sketches are sharper than they have ever been whilst also being less odd.
You’ve been going to Edinburgh for a few years now, what’s been your favourite Festival memory?
Joe: Probably finding matching red blazers in a shop off Nicholson Street.
Diane: Another of our best moments was meeting Larry David...
Joe: She walked passed him in the street
Diane: ...and another was seeing a woman squatting in a gutter.
You got some great reviews from your BBC2 pilot – is that something we can expect to hear more of in future?
We would love to do more radio, it was the most fun we have ever had together. We wrote some stuff and then dicked around in a studio for hours on end and no one ever threw us out, and they even put it on the radio. Brilliant fun.
Two Episode of MASH: A Sketch Show by These People will be at the Pleasance Dome from 7-29th August at 4:20pm
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