The Comedy House Circus: “Threats are always present. We only ask that they let us work”

Criollo humor —the kind born in the arenas of Chabuca Granda and the squares of downtown Lima— did not stop even when an extortion grenade forced the suspension of recordings for La Casa de la Comedia, a popular YouTube show. Despite this, the format returns in circus mode in North Lima, with a season inspired by the fifth “Toy Story” movie and adapted into the “Toy Misio” joke.

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“We are going to change the story a bit… in the style of La Casa de la Comedia, but seeking to maintain humor for families and children,” says comedian and orchestra singer Luigui Carbajal in an interview with El Comercio. He spoke with the YouTube show’s producer, Jhon Ponce, to secure the rights and thus transfer the idea to a circus tent. Carbajal had had it in mind for years. And he is excited because he is returning to the circus after 18 years, since those seasons with “Recargados de Risa” and “Risas de América.”

Emblematic figures from the web show, such as Frejolito Jr., El Soly, Sapito, and Chancalata, are moving to the new circus. In the “Toy Misio” act, Carbajal dresses as Woody the cowboy and Cuban artist Lisandra Lizama as Jessie the doll, while the rest of the artists dress up as other characters. Eight performances with professional acrobats are added to the comedy act.

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Security measures

Behind this return is a story that goes beyond the world of the circus. La Casa de la Comedia had to stop its recordings and conclude its initial stage a few years ago when a grenade was found at the door of the premises where they recorded in Santa Clara. “We stopped for about 15 days. It was better to stop than to lose the life of one of our colleagues,” recalls Carbajal. Later, already installed in another space in downtown Lima, “they knocked on the door again,” which ended up closing the show before a new opening could be achieved with another cast and another dynamic.

“I love doing comedy and I feel that, damn, they are putting a foot in my way to trip me up. The same goes for my colleagues. Obviously there is fear, but everyone suffers from extortions, not only artists, but also cumbia singers, grocers, bakers, everyone, and as Peruvians, we cannot be oblivious to the situation. Raising our voice in protest is a contribution to stop this,” he says.

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“Threats are always latent, we are exposed. We only ask to be allowed to work,” he adds.

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Luigui, in reality, never received a personal threat, but he was part of the project where some artists were targets of extortion. Given the situation, security measures are reinforced in his return to the circus. Now, the tent is set up inside Plaza Vea in North Lima, with police security, serenazgo (municipal security), and its own internal security system. “We are inside a shopping center, so people will be able to have complete peace of mind to enjoy a healthy and very careful show,” he warns. His audience expects to see the artists of his acclaimed show off-screen, because nothing stops them and they continue to bring laughter without pretending that fear does not exist.