Stand-up comic dreams of adobo, lumpia & bibingka

 MANILA, Philippines — Canadian-American stand-up comedian Tom Green is in town to hit the stage at the Ballroom of the City Club, Makati, tonight and he’s looking forward not only to make Filipinos laugh but also to indulge in adobo, lumpia and bibingka.

So how come a first-time visitor knows about Filipino food? The connection is Green’s manager who happens to be Fil-Am actor Rob Schneider’s brother John. “It’s my first time performing in the Philippines,” said Green. “I’ve met Rob’s and John’s Filipina mother Pilar and she’s from Manila. So I have a lot of Filipinos already in my life. Pilar is wonderful and always says she’s praying for my success. I better not disappoint. I’m looking forward to having some delicious adobo and lumpia and maybe, a little bibingka for dessert. I hear the Filipino people love to laugh.”

Comedy is Green’s middle name. It’s like he was born to put people in stitches. “I have a high-energy hilarious show that deals with the crazy world we live in today and how technology is ruining it,” he said. “That’s just part of the things I discuss in my act. It’s all ridiculous and fun.”

Since breaking into comedy at 15, Green has taken his stand-up act all over the world. His main influences are George Carlin, Richard Pryor and Jerry Lewis. “I enjoy making people laugh,” the 47-year-old comedian said. “I went to college to study broadcasting which led to my cable show then MTV and movies. My main source of inspiration in crafting my material is the crazy world we live in. You can’t make this stuff up.”

Born in Ontario, Green has tickled the funny bone of audiences of all creeds, ages, nationalities and genders. “Last year, I was all through Europe,” he said. Before arriving in Manila, he performed in Singapore. And after Manila, Green will tour Tokyo, Ho Chi Minh City, Shanghai, Bangkok and Hong Kong. Starting in May, he’ll travel around the US and Canada with shows in Connecticut, Idaho, Florida, Alabama, Texas, California, Tennessee, Washington, Philadelphia, North Carolina, Edmonton in Alberta and Winnipeg in Manitoba. His schedule is fully booked until the end of the year. That’s how much he’s in demand.

Green’s popularity soared to unprecedented heights after he appeared in his own MTV show, Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show and movies like Road Trip, Charlie’s Angels, Freddy Got Fingered, Stealing Harvard and Shred. Known for his brand of shock comedy, Green was briefly married to actress Drew Barrymore.

The first of two sons, Green grew up in a Canadian Army Base. His father Richard is a retired Army captain and a computer systems analyst and his mother Mary Jane, a communications consultant. Before getting serious with comedy, Green tried his luck as a rapper in a group called Organized Rhyme and was known as MC Bones.

Green is a testicular cancer survivor and raises money for cancer research through the Tom Green Nuts Cancer Fund. He has spoken in public events to raise awareness for testicular cancer. In 2004, his autobiography Hollywood Causes Cancer was published. Early this year, he became an American citizen.

“People say I’m a pretty serious guy off-stage but I can surprise you with some silly behavior if the environment is right for it,” he said. “I like to have fun. It’s fun to have fun. I write material constantly and then try it out at various venues in and around Los Angeles. Then when it’s ready, I take that on the road.”

In terms of credentials, Green probably has the most impressive resume among the stand-up comedians whom the husband-and-wife team of Dilip and Saira Budhrani of Happy Happenings by Prime i Events has brought to the country over the years. That’s why the Budhranis are excitedly calling on comedy lovers and enthusiasts to watch Green’s show and not miss out on a world-class performance.

Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are available at TicketWorld (891-9999) and nos. 0920-9717055 and 0917-5703057. VIP tickets are going for P3,000 each and standard tickets for P1,600 apiece. A VIP ticket will guarantee the best seat in the house, a meet-and-greet opportunity with Green and a welcome drink of Magners Irish Cider.

For details, visit www.comedyfest.asia.