Destiny’s child: Comedy is in Shawn Wayans’ DNA

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This article was published 16/04/2015 (4133 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In the end, there really was no other choice. Shawn Wayans was going to be a comedian.

“I’ve had the benefit of being blessed with some tremendous comedic role models,” says Wayans, who brings his standup-comedy act to Winnipeg for a series of hot-ticket shows at Rumor’s Comedy Club from April 16 to 19. “I’ve watched them climb through the ranks, and learned the tricks of the trade and what (comedy) is all about. I’ve been very well-prepared for this since I was a young guy.”

Wayans, 44, is the second-youngest sibling in a family that also includes brothers Keenen Ivory, Damon (Sr.) and Marlon, and sisters Kim and Nadia. He broke into showbiz in 1990 on his oldest brother’s TV series, In Living Color, and has worked hard ever since to create his own identity and career in comedy.

“When I first started, it was definitely a challenge,” he says of carrying the Wayans name. “But it just forced me to work harder. And with a lot of hard work, I blossomed and made my own name.”

Wayans was originally scheduled to do six shows at the local comedy club, but two additional performances (April 16 at 10:30 p.m. and April 19 at 10 p.m.) were added after the first set sold out quickly. Limited remaining tickets ($35) are available at Rumor’s.

Along with brother Marlon, he appeared in The Wayans Brothers TV series from 1995 to ’99; on the big screen, Wayans has appeared in such comedy projects as Scary Movie, White Chicks and Little Man.

In recent years, the Wayans brothers — Shawn and Marlon — have toured as a doubleheader standup-comedy act; while he enjoys the camaraderie of the sibling shows, Wayans admits there’s something liberating about venturing out as a solo act.

“The benefit comes in the amount of stage time I get. I love touring with my brother, but when I’m on my own, I get to stretch out, do more time and play with some ideas that I probably wouldn’t have time to do when we’re both on the bill,” he explains.

Wayans’ showbiz pedigree has afforded him insider status at some important moments in comedy history; he admits that seeing his idols close up played a part in his decision to pursue a career as an entertainer.

“I was at the taping of Eddie Murphy’s Raw (in 1987),” he recalls. “I was backstage when Keenen (who co-wrote the special’s opening sketch) was there with Eddie Murphy. I’ve gotten to see some great comedic things go down in my life, and it created this burning itch for me to do it myself.”

As he nears the three-decade mark in his comedy career, Wayans says his perspective has changed and his style of humour has matured. He isn’t worried about the future, however, because he believes there’s no age limit on being funny.

“Life definitely enhances your art if you use the pain appropriately. The more life you live, the more you have to say and the more people you can reach who can relate to what you’re going through. Time is an artist’s friend, especially if you’re a standup (comic),” he says.

“It’s not like sports, where you’re at your best in your 30s. You can be at your best in your 60s as a standup; that’s the nice thing about comedy.”

brad.oswald@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @BradOswald