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| Ricky O.I., left, and Rowan Crabtree / Courtesy of Park Bo-young |
By Brad Curtin
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented difficulties for a lot of people. For stand-up comedian Rowan Crabtree and musical comedy artist Ricky O.I., it has been no different. Both have been teaching English in Korea for a number of years, while working hard on the side to develop their careers in what they love most: comedy. Now, with the pandemic hopefully in its closing stages, both are looking to go home to their home countries to further their comedy careers. But before they go, they'll pay tribute to Korea by hosting two nights of comedy this Friday and Saturday at the Funtastic Theater.
Ricky, now a certified artist on Spotify, traces his musical aspirations back to high school in the U.S. when he began playing in a rock band called Brand Name Punk, performing at hundreds of shows, festivals and battle of the bands all across south Florida. However, the roots of his musical comedy style come from elsewhere.
"I was really inspired by memorizing lyrics and jamming to comedy music from the likes of Adam Sandler, Tenacious D, Flight of the Conchords and Lonely Island," he told The Korea Times. Eventually with the breakup of his band in 2017, Ricky headed off to Korea to pursue teaching. After two years, he started to go down the musical comedy path. He connected with Rowan and others in Seoul's stand-up community, and hasn't looked back since.
Rowan, who first began performing stand-up in 2011 back in the U.K., was eventually signed to an agency and toured all over his country. While enjoying his early success, he was inspired to move abroad though, and came to Korea to teach English in 2016. Soon after the move, he began to perform his comedy in Seoul, and eventually became part of the leadership in the community.
He helped to organize an international stand-up comedy festival, but unfortunately it never came to be. "Our hopes of bringing many international acts to Seoul and cementing Korea as a serious contender within the stand-up comedy scene within Asia were dashed by the pandemic," Rowan said.
Despite the setbacks, Rowan, Ricky and others continued working hard on their comedy ― writing, performing and workshopping material whenever COVID-19 restrictions would allow ― and the community is thriving.
Besides the farewell show, there are a number of regular open mics, showcases and even other upcoming stand-up comedy special events. Kristen Pimley is organizing a Ladies' Night Comedy Show fundraiser event at The Studio HBC, with all female performers raising funds to support single moms in need. The show was supposed to be on March 1 but has been delayed to a later date.
Arthur Minsu is also organizing a show on March 12 called Made in Korea at Phillies in Haebangchon, featuring English-language stand-up only by comedians born in Korea.
Both Rowan and Ricky feel proud to have been part of the development of the community, and are confident it will thrive after they're gone.
"It's inspiring to see what we've achieved here," Rowan said. "Yet I'm really looking forward to heading back to the U.K. and picking up where I left off. I will resume my career performing both as an actor and a comedian."
He intends to use clips from the farewell shows to help get his career back on track after he returns.
Ricky has a similar plan. Currently he has 10 tracks available online, "but nothing compares to a live performance." he quipped. He is planning on using the audio from these farewell shows to mint his first live album. Included in the songs for this endeavor is "Dokdo," his hilarious hit where the audience cheers for all things Korean, and boos an "unmentionable rival."
The two nights of the Farewell Show for Ricky and Rowan are taking place on March 4 and 5 at 7 p.m. at the Funtastic Theater near Samgakji Station on Seoul Metro lines 4 and 6. They will be joined by other stand-up comedians. Tickets are 10,000 won. Find them on Instagram @rowanini90 and @rickyo.i.music for more information and to book tickets.
Brad Curtin is an actor, voice actor, improviser and stand-up comedian based in Seoul. When not spending time in the arts, you may find him doing some rooftop gardening in Haebangchon. He can be contacted on Instagram @brighter_happier.
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