One seriously funny Newfie

Expat comedian Brian Aylward has been enjoying a fair share of success of late, which included two sold-out shows in Seoul this summer. Aylward is a rising star on the Asian comedy circuit.

It`s Wednesday night at Aussie Grub `N` Grog (a.k.a. Tony`s) -- a small but lively night spot in Itaewon -- with a welcoming atmosphere. It`s open mic night, and Brian Aylward is a regular.

Aylward has a different, and slightly more courageous approach than the standard performers, and prefers to be more audience-inclusive. He improvs on countless topics. In the end, all in attendance are entertained, and fully appreciate the complexity of such a performance. Aylward returns to our table to the sound of generous applause. "It`s all about building a comfort level for myself," he said. "I do things like this so I can maintain a comfortable confidence in any situation."



"Tonight was my 92nd time on stage this year. The goal is 150 by the end of the year." The reason is simple. "There`s no such thing as a natural," he claimed. "Natural is what happens after you`ve put all the work into it. It takes genuine effort to look effortless." Despite his undeniable talent and ambition, Aylward has only been actively pursuing a comedy career since 2006.

"Growing up in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland, I never seriously thought about the possibility of being a stand-up comedian. All my friends were funny ... pretty much everyone around me was funny. It just wasn`t something you thought about."

Newfoundland is a scenic island on the Canadian east coast; its rugged landscape only surpassed by the rugged character of those who inhabit it.

"The Rock," as it is affectionately termed, though home to less than 500,000 inhabitants, has consistently produced some of Canada`s finest comedians. "Growing up I idolized Greg Malone, Mary Walsh, and the sketch comedy troupe CodCo."

Despite all of this, Aylward never considered taking to the stage himself, until November 2005, when on the basis of a bet, Brian made his debut at Rockssin`s Bar, a popular open-mic locale in Anyang. From that moment on, Aylward was under comedy`s spell, and he compensated for his late start with a workaholic demeanor.

Later that year, he moved to Toronto, and continued to hone his craft in T.O.`s highly competitive comic community. After a year on the open mic circuit there, invites from larger venues, like Eton House, Spirits Bar @ Grill, and the prestigious Yuk Yuk`s comedy club, emerged.

He returned to Korea in 2007, and in the spring of 2008 Brian was asked to be the opening act for a professional standup show here in Seoul, presented by the Spotlight Comedy Club. Never one to rest on his laurels, Aylward would follow it up with a tour of the Korean Peninsula, hitting the stage in places like Busan, Daegu and Gwangju.

Sure enough, his relentless pursuit was rewarded. In October 2008, after three years of writing and performing, Aylward was invited to the Hong Kong International Comedy Festival.

"It was held at Take Out Comedy, it`s the only full time comedy club in Asia," he explains.

"I had a pretty good week."

Pretty good indeed. Aylward delivered a brilliant performance, placing second in a field of 22 international comics. The runner-up result catapulted Aylward up the Asian comedy ladder.

As 2009 rolled in, so did the offers. The Canuck comic entertained audiences back in April at the DXO Comedy Club in Singapore, and performed a one-man show in Saigon, entitled "Good Evening, Vietnam" in May. Earlier this summer, Aylward would headline not one but two sold out shows at the Kabinett Wine Bar and Restaurant in Itaewon.

Amid the budding success, Aylward seized the day. He created "Stand Up Seoul," a comedy show which takes place at 9 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month at the Rocky Mountain Tavern in Itaewon. "We have a solid live music scene, but no live comedy. With the expat entertainment industry growing, I thought it would be a good time to start a stand up scene. The evolution of expat entertainment continues."

In addition, the easy-going entertainer`s charm on the mic has established him as an in-demand MC for various charities and social events throughout Seoul.

Brian Aylward will continue to ride the crest of success, with gigs in Japan, Malaysia, India, and right here in Seoul this fall.

So what`s beyond that?

Aylward doesn`t plan to return to Canada until December 2010, but he`s already making some noise at home. The amiable Newfoundlander is currently in talks to participate in a prestigious Canadian comedy festival next summer.

But regardless of weather he is back in Canada, here in Korea, or touring the far reaches of Asia, nothing changes.

Aylward has already found a home-on stage.

See Aylward live in Suncheon on Oct. 16 at McCarthy`s and Oct. 17 in Busan at Ol` 55. He will also perform on Oct. 23 and Oct. 24 at Kabinett Wine Bar, Itaewon, Seoul, with comedians Chris Tharp (of the United States) and Kerry Unger (of Canada). For tickets, e-mail service@pierothwines.co.kr or call (02) 711-9171.

(dj_maloney@hotmail.com)



By Daniel Maloney