Christel de Laat, Gerrie Smits and Marlon Kicken. All of them are comedians from Brabant. Everyone has their own style and stands for something else, but does there be something like Brabant humor? Christel de Laat and Gerrie Smits do not agree on that. Where one humor sees as something universal, the other also recognizes a Brabant touch when it comes to humor: “Soft with a sharp edge.”
“Humor is universal. Everyone has their own preferences. I may not like anything and the other way around,” says Christel de Laat. According to her, there is not something like Brabant humor. Yet she notices that her origin and accent can influence the audience. “My Brabant tongue could help to find something funnier,” says De Laat. But she does not adjust her shows to the audience. “My shows are always the same as to whether I have to perform in Zwolle or Breda. I am just a Brabantse and I am and will always stay myself.”
She says that people sometimes ask her if she is understood in Groningen. “Then I say: I don’t speak Greek, hey. And if people can’t understand me, they just have to say that. I can also give my shows in ABN, but then they last three times as long,” she says laughing.
Gerrie Smits sees that differently. Brabant humor does exist for him. He describes it as ‘very accessible and recognizable for everyone’. According to Smits it is ‘soft with a sharp edge’. He also sees this with his colleagues from Brabant.
“You can be coarser because it doesn’t sound coarse.”
Smits mentions comedy colleague Marlon Kicken as an example. “Marlon always knows how to find a good balance between accessibility, the soft and looking for the borders,” says Smits. According to him, you can often be a bit coarser in Brabant, because it does not sound coarse: “The soft G really has an influence on this and contributes to the comic effect.”
Smits is often told at his shows above the rivers that his emphasis creates a nice atmosphere. “People like it when I talk to a soft G. They immediately feel at home,” says the comedian.
“Maybe we’re a bit more tough in Brabant.”
De Laat thinks it is more to the mentality. “Perhaps we are more unpretentious in Brabant than in the rest of the country.” A comment that Smits understands. “From us a lot is ‘picked up’ by the audience. What we say is good, all good,” he adds. He thinks that the Brabant charm and cosiness certainly contribute to that.
He also feels that fun in the way Brabant comedians interact. “If I stand somewhere with Brabant colleagues, I get an app in advance or I want to ride. The audience also feels that fun.” The Laat agrees. “We can be proud of the Brabant comedians and have to be a bit frugal on them.”
Comedy on Brabant+
From August 6 there will be on Brabant+ See new comedy shows. It’s about the show Marlon Kicken wireless and Sweet cake from Gerrie Smits.
Furthermore, shows by Christel de Laat, Jochen Otten, Thijs van de Meeberg and Mark van de Veerdonk.
The comedy shows can be viewed for free at the Brabant+ from Omroep Brabant streaming service.