Turmoil 'no laughing matter'

Turmoil 'no laughing matter'

JAKARTA (JP): It ain't what jokes you say, it's how you say
them.

Unfortunately for the country's comedians however they are not
even getting the chance to crack many gags in these financially
fraught times, according to one of Indonesia's leading funnymen.

Not that there is any shortage of jokes at a time like this,
Kadir, well noted for his thick Madurese accent, said.

But as most people's disposable income is disappearing as fast
as their sense of humor, those in showbiz circles are having to
feast on slimmer pickings, he said.

"I apologize if I cannot entertain or spark laughter from
stressed-out people," he told Antara.

"I certainly won't do it for free," he said when asked if he
was willing to waive his fees to entertain people affected by the
monetary crisis.

Being a comedian is a serious profession, Kadir insisted.

"We perform to make a living. If we are asked to entertain
people affected by the crisis without pay, it won't be long
before we ourselves get stressed out," he said.

Kadir, who stars in a number of TV sitcoms, said many
scheduled stage appearances had been canceled because of the
crisis.

He recalled that during last year's Idul Fitri holiday, he
made no fewer than 13 stage appearances. This year, he had none.

He said that the drought affected virtually everyone in the
comedy industry, including Doyok, with whom he regularly makes
appearances on stage and on TV.

Kadir however agreed that jokes remain the best medicine to
relieve people's stress. (emb)