Pyongyang Open Mike Night

The Noraebang was closed last night for political unreliability, so I checked a new club called Utkyotalla. It is a comedy club. Not like American club with its unbiquitous (I use that right?) brick wall...nothing comedic about brick walls in Democratic Peoples Republic, especially the pock-marked ones. And they are all pockmarked.

Anyway, Marshal Paek was feeling his soju, so he got up to the mike and tried out his assortment of stale knock-knock jokes (Knock-knock...Who is there? ...State Security--BANG BANG!!) which got some dutiful, but nervous laughter from the audience of mostly eastern Europeans. After my third Hennessey, I was loose enough to give it a go, but I resolved I would not bomb like Paek...so I dug into my repertoire of impersonations and my flair for timely topical humor. I think the audience really got their heads wrapped around my act...the English-speaking ones any way. I do not think the Slovak interpreter knew who E.G. Robinson was.

Sent to Mudville Gazette.