James MacFarlane talks with Kyle Ayers about his show Hard to Say.
There is a downed power line in my head, flailing around, shocking me randomly
Kyle, let's start with something about your background.
Of course! I’m a comedian and writer living in Los Angeles. I’ve performed on Conan, Comedy Central, at the Just for Laughs Montreal Festival a bunch of times, and many others including the World Comedy Summit in Copenhagen. I’ve spent a lot of time running conceptual comedy shows, including a show called Boast Rattle and Never Seen It and, before Hard to Say, I’d tour with those shows and do standup. I’ve written for CBS, TBS, Roast on Comedy Central, and a lot more.
Hard To Say is your Edinburgh Fringe debut this year with. Was a Fringe run always on the cards for you?
I am so excited for Fringe! Developing Hard to Say has been a unique, wonderful experience for me (aside from the actual pain, I suppose). Writing a show that is this personal is new for me, and seeing how it has resonated with folks and made them laugh so much has made me ecstatic. Coming to Edinburgh Fringe has always been a life and career goal of mine, and this show feels perfect for the festival.
Your show is about the pain disorder you have - Trigeminal Neuralgia. what can you tell me about the disorder?
Trigeminal Neuralgia is a pain disorder , that essentially makes me feel as though I’m being electrocuted in in my head, brain, and face a lot of the time, most every day. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons say it’s “sometimes described as the most excruciating pain known to humanity,” and I’m inclined to agree. It’s commonly referred to as ‘Suicide Disease,’ because of the unfortunate ending too many folks experiencing it have. I have often described it as feeling as if there is a downed power line in my head, flailing around, shocking me randomly and with no regard.
The Fringe is a lot of fun, but it’s also a very tough month! Have you been given any tips by other comics on how to get through the run?
I’ve gotten so much advice from so many comedians who have come through Fringe before! I recently briefly chatted with Kumail Nanjiani who told me to take care of myself and try and enjoy the experience while it’s happening, and take time to wander. The hilarious Myq Kaplan has been such a wonderful friend, connecting me with a lot of performers who will be there this year, whom I didn’t already know. There have been countless people, performers and industry folks, who have given me advice. It’s a very cool thing, everyone seems to want to build this festival together, for everyone to enjoy.
Was it a difficult show for you to write or was it more of a cathartic process to open up about your pain disorder?
I think comedy and tragedy are quite closely linked. The process of writing a show about such a traumatic thing was more difficult in my head, than in practice, if that makes sense. I would run things over and over and over again, worry about coming off certain ways, and then inevitably when I performed the show or the new idea, it came across exactly how I’d hoped. I think because it is such an honest idea, and I live in it, the show is always fresh and feels new when I perform. I suppose I had been quietly writing the show for years before I ever performed it, since I avoided talking about Trigeminal Neuralgia on stage for a long time, despite living in pain. It feels cathartic every time I do the performance, because I am still in pain every time I do the performance.
Finally, do you have any shows that you’re excited to see while you’re in Edinburgh?
So many! I have a list I’ve started, that is ever-growing.
Ian Lockwood - The Farewell Tour
Mo Fry Pasic - Worse Than You
Kevin James Doyle - After Endgame
Fielding Edlow - Gaslighting is My Love Language
Titi Lee - Good Girl Gone Baddie
Aidan Jones - Pianoforte
Alexis Gay - Unprofessional
