When laughter is no laughing matter

A comedian reflects on how his craft is faring in China, and he is not amused

Xi Jiangyue has one of the hardest jobs of the evening. As show host he has to break the ice with what may be a demanding audience, lulling them into the right mood for the comedians who will appear later. After the pleasantries come the inevitable gags.

"I went to this barber once. He said to me, 'Giving you a trim is exhausting work. It's like mowing grass in the desert. I run all over the place, but anywhere I look I can't find a single patch of growth. I'm having a hell of a hard job.'"