Franjo, whose real name is François Reno, is one of the most witty and endearing comedians of the moment. Coming from Melun, not the most glamorous city, he embraces it in his hilarious sketches. Catch him on April 25th at the Casino Barrière – this guy is truly, truly funny.
Franjo enjoys satirizing current events without being crude – a skill lacking in today’s stand-up, avoiding cliché caricatures. His strength lies in interacting with the audience, mastering witty remarks, crazy comebacks, and lightning-fast responses. Ahead of a highly anticipated performance at the Casino Barrière, we had a chat.
Your interactions with the audience are hilarious – how do you work on them?
It’s part of the formula – there’s current affairs and improvisation. I leave room for the unexpected, for the audience’s reactions. I quickly spot those eager to participate – sometimes overly dramatic participants, I avoid them as they can be too much! I prefer the genuine ones, who want to engage sincerely – they create the most interesting exchanges.
There are some interesting exchanges on YouTube, particularly in Toulouse?
Toulouse is a fertile ground for improv, with a young and enthusiastic audience! That’s where the best specimens are found!
How do you choose your topics?
I focus on current events, look for subjects that interest me and decide if I want to tackle them. I try to include more timeless jokes, but the audience often demands commentary on current events – it can get overwhelming! Furthermore, it depends; I don’t work every day hunting for punchlines.
Are there any topics you forbid yourself from discussing?
There are no forbidden subjects – however, there are ways to mishandle topics. It’s all about approaching ideas. I don’t want to hurt or shock as many people as possible. I’m not interested in political correctness, nor do I desire to offend people. Making people laugh by hurting others, no.
And what makes you laugh?
The old sketches of Dieudonné, Patrick Diwen, Haroun, Artus… Oh, you meant what makes me laugh, not who makes me laugh? Well, people’s foolishness amuses me greatly. I like depicting absurd situations and seeing how far we can push it. The absurdity of things, that touches me.
When did you realize you had the power to make people laugh?
By chance. There was an improv workshop organized by my IUP, and it went really well. I thought being on stage and seeing 200 people laugh at my nonsense was a good plan. I didn’t let go, I did every open mic I could. Making people laugh without pretending to be something else suits me very well. It’s a primary function, laughter, isn’t it?
Catch Franjo at the Casino Barrière (Ramier rule) on Saturday, April 25 at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Tickets starting from 26€. Reservations at usual outlets and fnacspectacles.com.
