Jon Bennett in Pretending Things Are A Cock. Photo credit: Alexis Dubus
Pretending Things Are A Cock by Jon Bennett
August 12, 13, 15, 17 – 20 at Venue #2: Backstage Theatre
More information: jonbennettcomedy.com
An interview with Jon Bennett.
Describe your show in five words.
Cock, Cock, Cock, Cock, Cock.
Okay, now that we’re intrigued… what’s the longer description?
6 years ago I travelled around the world making a photographic book called ‘Pretending Things are a Cock’. I never intended it to become ‘a thing’ but it happened. It’s a storytelling show about how this happened to me and a travelogue of how taking photos of monuments and anything else as my cock led me to meet some amazing people.
Pretending Things Are A Cock is a result of 5 years of global wandering. Can you talk a bit about how this show came to be?
It started as a stupid thing that I did to make my friends laugh. Then these photos were posted online and became popular. Then I traveled around the world making it a book. Then it became an art exhibition in a gallery. I started doing tours of the Pretending Things are a Cock gallery and telling the stories behind the cocks. Thus, a show was erected.
Pretending Things Are A Cock is described as both hilarious and heart-wrenching. How do you balance both elements in this show?
I’m using a puerile and childish framework to talk about traveling and how something so silly allowed me to meet some amazing people and do some incredible things. It’s about the beautiful people who have helped me do something very stupid.
Pretending Things Are A Cock has been performed in front of sold out audiences across the world. What is it about the show that you think audiences connect so strongly to?
I think the title is intriguing and lures people in and then it plays with their expectations. Most people have done something very immature to make their friend’s laugh. I’m not the first person to do this. It’s the first show I ever did (I have 8 solo shows) and I think the audience is amazed at how far I have taken such a stupid idea and how such a stupid show has made them feel.
Anything else you want audiences to know about the show?
The bragging bit again… I don’t know? This show has been everywhere! It’s won awards and quite often is labeled ‘The funniest show of the Fringe’. If you’d like a fun and silly time then this is the show for you.
The 35th Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival is August 11 – 21. Tickets go on sale August 3 at noon and will be available at tickets.fringetheatre.ca.