Gracing the Edinburgh Fringe once more with his presence, comedian, actor and improviser-extraordinaire Chris Grace talks to Pepper&Salt about his new show 88%, being okay with almost perfect and asking the tough questions without the assumption of getting any of the answers.
How would you summarise your new hour?
88% is my new hour of standup that asks burning questions like “Can you work with someone that you only mostly agree with?” and “Should you bring Jollibee hot dog spaghetti to a gay orgy?”
My show is funny, sad, strange, and introspective, but it’s actually a ruse to ask tough questions and instead of me providing the answers, provoking the audience into coming to the answers themselves (and hopefully telling them to me afterwards because good Lord am I flummoxed these days).
What does 88% stand for, if it’s not too much of a spoiler? Does it have anything to do with 42?
If only I had the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything! Alas 88% is about being satisfied with “pretty good” … tolerating a grade B in school as opposed to the relentless pursuit of perfection.
How did you calculate the 88% ?
It perfectly represents a score that is “not bad” but also “not great” – it’s also got two 8s in it which is lucky for Chinese people.
Was there anything specific that inspired this hour?
The increasing sense that progressives are willing to divide themselves based on single issue differences (to the detriment of progress).
How did you decide what the most important questions to ask are?
They are either the questions at the top of my mind, or the ones I think I have answers for, or are the dumbest, and therefore the funniest.
”It’s actually a ruse to ask tough questions and instead of me providing the answers, provoking the audience into coming to the answers themselves (and hopefully telling them to me afterwards because good Lord am I flummoxed these days).”
What is the main throughline or idea that you explore over the course of the hour?
How the collapse of context makes it too easy to dismiss people, and also whether robot vacuums are gay.
What was the writing process like for this show?
This has been the most “develop on its feet” show I’ve ever made… it is a matter of doing the material in front of audiences dozens of times to bring it to life.
How would you describe your particular perspective?
Focused on the truth, while also being confused about what the truth is.
What are some of the lessons that you have learned from acting and improv that inform how you approach writing comedy and stand-up?
Primarily staying in the moment, never pretending the show is going better (or worse) than it is, and being comfortable with financial instability.
Apart from ‘yes and’, what do you think is the most important rule of improv/ comedy?
Getting out of the way of your unconscious creative mind to express itself.
What advice would you give your American colleagues about performing at the Edinburgh Fringe or specifically to a UK audience?
Temper your expectations, and don’t be surprised when you ask a rhetorical question and a drunk guy shouts out an answer.
What are you looking forward to about the Edinburgh Fringe?
Circus shows, clown shows, and being walking distance to meat pies and Chinese hand pulled noodles.
What is something that you wished you knew when you made your fringe debut?
To focus on doing a great show and to not worry about external validation.
By Katerina Partolina Schwartz
Photo Credit: Jill Petracek
Chris Grace: 88% is at Assembly George Square Gardens, Edinburgh Fringe, 1:40pm. For tickets visit https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/chris-grace-88
Pepper & Salt 
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