2 ❚ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2018 ❚ DAILY RECORD
TGIF!
ON STAGE
Craig Ferguson keeps it personal during tour Craig Ferguson
Bill Nutt
Special to Morristown Daily Record USA TODAY NETWORK - NEW JERSEY
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4
Craig Ferguson is ready for a break. He thinks audiences are ready for one, too. During his decade-long tenure as host of “The Late Late Show,” Ferguson would begin the program with a monologue addressing the topics of the day, which almost invariably involved political issues. Ferguson is quite happy those days are behind him, thank you very much. “I’m glad I’m not doing late night, so I don’t have to be doing that,” said the Scottish-born performer. “There’s an inordinate amount of opinion and rhetoric out there.” As a deliberate counterpoint to topical humor, Ferguson is keeping it personal in his current live performances, which are part of what he calls the “Hobo Fabulous Tour.” His next appearance will be the Mayo Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, Dec. 4. “I made a conscious decision to make the show anecdotal,” he said. “It deals with what’s going on in my life and the life of any human, like love, sex or the weather.” (He did add the language gets Craig Ferguson will bring his “Hobo Fabulous Tour” to the Mayo PAC in “a bit naughty,” so the show is for ma- Morristown on Tuesday. PHOTO COURTESY OF IAN CUNNINGHAM ture audiences only.) “It’s not about politics or hot buttons,” Ferguson emphasized. “I wanted but Ferguson said it is not. to the type of stand-up he used to do in it to be a break for everyone, myself in“Too much of what I see nowadays is the 1980s, when he was starting out in cluded. Of course, I have my opinions. that comedians tour a show and then Glasgow. But I don’t have to talk about them. All record the show (for cable or a DVD),” he As he described it, a career in comedy that stuff will still be there after people said. “There aren’t many variations was something that he fell into, rather leave the theater.” from night to night. than actively pursued. In his teens and In addition, Ferguson said that each “The show I do in Morristown will not early 20s, he was a drummer for punk performance on the tour will be in- be the same show I do in Columbus or rock bands in Scotland. Between sets, formed by the specifi c community the show I do in Reykjavik,” he con- while the band was setting up equipwhere he is appearing. That means ad- tinued. “It’s doing local connections. It’s ment, he would tell jokes. dressing thoughts and memories asso- more organic. It’s like a musician doing (Among the people who encouraged ciated with New Jersey when he stops in an acoustic set. It’s a purer form of Ferguson as a comedian: Peter Capaldi, Morristown. stand-up.” lead singer of the band and the actor That may seem an obvious approach, Ferguson likened his current shows who later became the 12th Doctor Who.)
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Where: Mayo Performing Arts Center, 100 South St., Morristown Tickets: $49 to $79 Info: 973-539-8008 or mayoarts
“I never saw comedy as a career,” Ferguson said. “There was no primary source. Over time, it became evident that this was how the universe was having me fl ow.” Appearances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in the late 1980s eventually led Ferguson to TV and theater. (Among the roles he has played are Brad in “The Rocky Horror Show” and Oscar in “The Odd Couple.”) Eventually, Ferguson crossed the Atlantic. He found success in television as Mr. Wick, the boss on “The Drew Carey Show,” followed by his 10-year stint hosting “The Late Late Show.” He has also taken on parts in movies and voice acting roles, as well as programs on SiriusXM. For now, Ferguson is content to do stand-up and the occasional acting gig. (He has a romantic comedy called “Then Came You” scheduled for release in 2019.) But he is reluctant to discuss future plans, other than working in his garden. “I feel there’s an unhealthiness in show business, where you’re always looking to the next project and not enjoying the day,” Ferguson said. “I’m happy now. I’m working with people I want to work with.” Ferguson carries that pragmatic attitude toward his current performances. “If you like me, you’ll enjoy the show,” he said. “If you don’t like me, that’s cool. If you’re not sure about me, it’s your call.”
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