Colin & Brad, Asking For Tour, will perform Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6 and 7, at the Waterville Opera House. Jeff Andrews photo

It has been 19 years since I first interviewed Mr. Colin Mochrie (from “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”) on Sept. 1, 2005. He was coming to Merrill Auditorium with Brad Sherwood for their Maine debut performance of the improvisational comedy duo, Colin & Brad, he called me on that day from his Canadian home to chat about the show and his work.

SHOW INFO

COLIN & BRAD, ASKING FOR TROUBLE TOUR
TIME: 8 p.m.
DATES: Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6 and 7
VENUE: Waterville Opera House
ADDRESS: 1 Common St., Waterville
TICKETS: $59-$79
PHONE: 207-873-7000
WEBSITE: colinandbradshow.com

When I learned that the two of them were coming to Waterville for a couple of shows at the Opera House (on Dec. 6 and 7) I requested a phone interview with Mochrie and was told that he would be more than happy to chat … that found him calling me once again, nearly two decades later. I began by asking how the “Asking For Trouble” tour was going over in other locations.
A: It’s been going great, it’s still surprising that after 22 years together, we still get along and the show’s still fun, so that’s good.

Q: Well, that makes me wonder how you can keep it fresh.
A: We’re constantly trying to come up with new games, or different ways of doing games, trying to find more things that sort of take us outside of our comfort zones. Recently our second act is basically a musical tribute to the town we’re playing in, so that’s completely different and what makes it tough is, out of the two of us only one of us can really sing, so it adds that extra little oomph of adrenalin.

Q: (Chuckle) Yeah, I can see where it would. Now I’ve been a fan of yours for many years and we have even chatted before back in 2005 when you two were preparing to debut at Merrill Auditorium in Portland.
A: (Laughter) I’m going to take your word for that! Half the time I have no idea where I am, I just get on a plane and hope it’s the right one, so far it’s worked out.

Q: I noticed on your website that the two shows are the last ones in 2024 and there’s a pause before those listed for 2025. Are those shows at the Waterville Opera House the end of one run or the beginning of a new one?
A: (Pause) They’re sort of in the middle, it’s just an ongoing thing: all we do is change the name of the show every year and come up with different ways of doing games to keep it exciting for us. But over the 22 years there’s never been like, “Alright, we’ll tour for this month to that month” — it’s always if somebody wants us, we’ll be there.

Q: I’m curious about the two shows in a row at the same venue — is that something you do often?
A: No, it’s pretty rare, usually we come in, do a show, and then we leave the next day to somewhere else; so it’ll be nice, maybe we’ll actually get to see the place we’re playing in for the first time.

Q: The venue has been recently renovated and restored and it is a beautiful hall with great acoustics, well-suited, I believe, for what you do.
A: Well, our show is fairly simple, it’s us and a way for us to be heard, that’s basically it, so sound is a very important part of our show. We’re always happy when we head into a theater and they’re ready for us and the sound system is on top of things — it certainly makes it a lot easier.

Q: Now, I’m curious, does this tour with Brad take up most of your time or are there other things that you’re involved with?
A: Oh, yes (chuckle), after the pandemic I thought, “You know what? The pandemic showed me that I can relax at home and really enjoy it.” So I thought, “Maybe I’ll pull back a little bit.” That just hasn’t worked out which is fine because I still enjoy performing, but I do this tour with Brad, I also tour with a hypnotist who hypnotizes audience members and then I improvise with them, that’s been going on around the same time. And then my wife and I also do improv shows together, so I’m just going to die on-stage, apparently.

Q: Oh, no, I suppose if that’s your lot in life, but yes!
A: (Chuckle) I just feel sad for whoever’s with me at that point.

Q: Well, let’s put it this way: How long do you want to keep doing this?
A: Umm, well I still really enjoy it so the most I could promise is sort of a semi-retirement; but my thing is — as long as people are still coming to our shows then I’ll do it. You do worry, as you get older, and I just turned 67, you wonder, is there going to be a point where you’re just not going to be funny anymore, you just won’t have the same sensibility, you won’t move along with the times as far as keeping it current. We’re lucky in a way that our comedy is more goofy than being based on politics or lifestyle or what’s going on in the world, we’re just there to have a good time and make people laugh. So that has sort of a timeless quality to it and hopefully no expiration dates.

Q: Now, I remember a certain series of TV ads centered on a character known as the Snack Fairy.
A: (Sigh) Oh, yeah.

Q: Have you been doing any other commercials?
A: Have I? No, I haven’t, I’ve been mostly touring and every once in a while a television or film project will come up. So it’s nice to have different things going on, I never get bored, I’m always challenged by the things I do, and then I also find that, and again this has been since the pandemic, I have actually found a way to have more of a balance: so I spend more time with my wife and daughter who still enjoy me, at this point.

Q: Well, variety keeps your life fresh and interesting, I would imagine, and you’re not so apt to burn out doing just one thing.
A: Exactly. It really helps if you have a variety of interests that keeps your curiosity going, which you need.

Q: Now, sir, is there anything you’d like to pass on to the folks reading this article?
A: Well, the show is family friendly, it never gets any more risqué than your average “Who’s Line” show, which sometimes pushed the envelope but we’re usually pretty good (chuckle). And what makes it fun is that every show is a show for that audience, no one will ever see that exact show ever again, so it kind of makes it just a once-in-a-lifetime experience for everybody.

Q: And will do it again, if you like.
A: Okay, I’ll be there until I die.

Q: I’m 75 so I’ll go before you, I think.
A: Well, okay, I’m fine with that, if that’s the way you want it to go!

Lucky Clark, a 2018 “Keeping the Blues Alive” Award winner, has spent more than 50 years writing about good music and the people who make it. He can be reached at luckyc@myfairpoint.net if you have any questions, comments or suggestions.