Comedians Hamish Parkinson and Ryan Richards have formed a new act for this year’s comedy festival. Spinoff Comedy co-editor Natasha Hoyland has a chat with the Fuq Boiz over Facebook Messenger.
Hamish Parkinson:
Oh, we’ve already lost Ryan.
Maybe something awful has happened to him.
Is he still alive?
We better call the cops and let them know he’s missing
Natasha Hoyland:
Maybe he thought the interview was cancelled, like Nic Sampson’s show.
Hamish:
God, that’s such a shame, eh? Poor Nic, two shows in a row.
He’s coming to Melbourne soon but I think those shows are cancelled too.
Natasha:
Seems like a shame to travel all that way for some cancelled shows.
That joke will never get old.
(Editor’s note: Nic Sampson’s show is not cancelled)
Hamish:
Anyway, how are you, Natasha?
Natasha:
I’m good but very hungry, so am making 2 minute noodles like a real journalist.
Ryan Richards:
Hello!
Natasha:
He’s here! Let’s get this thing started! Tell us a bit about your comedy festival show, because I feel like I don’t know as much as I should.
(Editor’s note/disclaimer: Natasha is producing Fuq Boiz in the comedy festival)
Hamish:
Well, we didn’t think it through and now it’s happening.
Ryan:
The show is super fun!
Wait, I can do better than that.
Hamish:
Ryan and I play kind of warped versions of ourselves.
Ryan:
Yup, the Fuq Boiz.
Hamish:
Our dynamic is like Ren and Stimpy, a bit dark, a bit surreal, but super fun.
Ryan:
Yes! Very! I’m Ren, the fat one.
Hamish:
Stimpy?
Ryan:
Oh no wait, Stimpy is the fat one lol. Yes.
Hamish:
I’m the evil one.
Natasha:
When you said Ren and Stimpy, all I could think about was the episode with the skinny dipping.
Ryan:
I don’t think I’ve seen that one.
Hamish:
The one where they take off their skin?
Natasha:
Yeah!
Ryan:
Oh jesus.
Natasha:
I think it’s the only episode I’ve seen. At least, that I can remember.
Ryan:
Ok, well that skin-taking off humour definitely exists in our show.
Hamish and I play the Fuq Boiz and they play throughout the show, then we have some really effed up sketches. The Fuq Boiz are not what you think.
Natasha:
That kind of sounds like a threat, but go on.
Ryan:
They’re not your classic fuck boys, but instead tux-wearing gentlemen, and I say gentlemen, but they are actually the worst.
These guys just want to be loved, by the audience and by their dates.
Hamish:
I feel like the more we explain this show, the less it makes sense.
Natasha:
Haha!
Ryan:
So the guts of the show is the journey of the Fuq Boiz, who are going to do a show and then have a date. So work before play, and then there are some really nutty sketches.
Natasha:
And Laura Daniel is directing!
Hamish:
Yes! And I’m directing her and Joseph’s show Two Hearts Auckland World Tour.
Natasha:
Oh, awesome.
Ryan:
We’ve had one session with her so far and it’s been CRUCIAL haha. She really got us back on track.
Hamish:
Yeah, it’s taken a while for us to figure out each other’s working styles.
Ryan:
And we have a fun language now, instead of calling them gags or bits, we call them “games” – eh Hammy?
Hamish:
Haha, yes, and sketches are not ‘mini plays’
Natasha:
Do the Fuq Boiz each have names or are they Hamish and Ryan?
Hamish:
Hamish and Ryan.
Natasha:
I was wondering if it would be like Fuq and Boi.
Ryan:
Haha, Fuq and Boi!
Natasha:
Like in Austin Powers, Fook Mi and Fook Yu. Which I don’t even know why I referenced because I’ve never seen any of the movies.
Hamish:
What!?
Ryan:
They had a marathon on TV2 this weekend!
Hamish:
I don’t know why I’m so ‘shook’ about this.
Natasha:
I’ve seen clips but none of the movies in full.
Ryan:
Fook Mi and Fook Yu – although I’m not sure that humour is very woke in 2017.
Hamish:
I don’t remember that bit, but I assume it was in great taste and not at all brushed with racism.
Ryan:
I still loled though – maybe I am part of the problem.
Hamish:
“it’s PC gone mad Auuustin”
Natasha:
Let’s talk about the videos you’ve made to promote the show. Where did the idea for those come from?
Ryan:
Oh yes, that’s lots of fun.
Natasha:
I think my favourite is the elevator one.
Hamish:
That’s my fave too.
Ryan:
Hamish and I were talking about stock footage that’s available on the internet, and it’s already so goddamn weird. Our idea was to make the stock footage, where everything starts normally, like usual corporate stock footage, but then something slightly fucked up happens.
Hamish:
Yeah, I wanted them to be kind of mock stock footage things that can stand alone as well.
Stock footage videos are so weird, everyone’s all silent and happy to be alive. Our videos are just nice short content that might get people jazzed on the show, I guess.
Ryan:
And Fuq Boiz isn’t set in the corporate world or anything – but the style of absurd and dark humour is definitely in the show – except taken even more to the extreme.
You can buy tickets to Fuq Boiz here and find more of their videos as they roll them out here.