Comedy camp is no laughing matter

To be a good comedian requires a mastery of many elements. Facial movement and delivery are two, and most importantly, a vivid imagination.

Basak Ng, a 41-year-old owner of a dessert and drinks restaurant in Macao, likely has a deep understanding of this.

Alongside other learners, Ng took part in a six-day sketch comedy training camp organized by Mahua FunAge, a popular Beijing-based comedy company. As the first of its kind, the program was held in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Guangdong province, from Aug 21-26.

On the final day of the camp, Ng made her debut with five partners in a sketch comedy performance titled Wo Shi Dahuajia (I am a Great Painter) during a gala where all students showcased what they had learned.

During the performance, an audience member suggested the keyword "coffee", which led the six performers to take turns portraying various scenarios involving the beverage.

The performer who received the most acclaim would then, in turn, have their created imagery involve a new keyword, creating a cycle that amused, naturally, the viewers.

Recalling that a friend recommended she join the camp, Ng tells China Daily that she has been impressed with the weeklong learning experience, which taught her valuable skills such as observation, improvisation and teamwork.

"I hope that after this learning experience, I will have the ability to convey and spread happiness, inspiring others with my words and actions to share joy and love," says Ng, who is also a fan of Shen Teng, one of the most renowned comedy stars of Mahua FunAge.

Established in Beijing in 2003, the comedy company has produced in excess of 100 stage shows that have toured more than 150 cities. Some of their most popular works have been adapted into feature-length movies, including Goodbye Mr Loser (2015) and Never Say Die (2017).

In March, Mahua FunAge hosted the first Macao International Comedy Festival, which aims to cultivate comedic talents and promote Chinese comedies to the overseas markets.

Leer Cheng, the chief financial officer of Mahua FunAge, says that they launched the festival two years ago in line with China's effort to accelerate the integrated development of Hengqin and Macao.

Pointing out that the local entertainment and culture market is diverse and inclusive, Cheng says that she hopes to discover and train more talent to further develop the comedy performance industry within the local market.

A total of 20 amateur comedy fans attended the camp, with participants ranging from a 19-year-old from Beijing to a 57-year-old from Hong Kong.

Revealing that the camp focused on teaching acting and creative skills for sketch comedy, Cheng says that this format is an emerging form of comedy that consists of a series of short and amusing scenes.

"The form has a faster pace and shorter length compared to traditional comedies. It revolves around a quirky point or creative idea, with some developing a plotline entirely, while others conclude abruptly and may seem nonsensical but funny," Cheng explains.

With around 25 percent of participants from Macao and Hong Kong, teachers at the camp provided special assistance to these students in creating comedy sketches in Cantonese, skillfully utilizing the language's characteristics to craft jokes.

For example, the Chinese idiom he jiu bi fen (states divide after long periods of unification) sounds like "must get married to a pet puppy "in Cantonese. This pun inspired a comedic scene in which a man and a woman fall for each other after frequently encountering one another while walking their respective dogs.

The company collaborated with the Macao Conservatory earlier this year to host a comedy training program. They also presented a Cantonese adaptation of Shear Madness, one of the longest-running nonmusical plays in the world. Additionally, the first Macao International Comedy Festival featured two foreign comedy shows: A Comedy of Operas from Spain and A Dance Tribute to the Art of Football from Norway.

The company also wishes to collaborate with foreign drama festivals and comedians.

"Currently, we are planning to curate Chinese-language comedies for the second edition of the festival and submit them for consideration to prestigious international drama festivals," Cheng adds.