Mr Bean, the man with a rubber face

Being funny is serious business that takes a lot of hard work to perfect. And for Mr Bean, it all started at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world’s largest arts festival, where he did a mini performance. And as Richard Tuwangye aka Monkey of Fun Factory observes, “His is not the kind of comedy you will undergo training for; he discovered a natural gift and exploited it. He doesn’t need to crack a joke because he is the joke himself.”

Rowan Sebastian Atkinson was born on January 6, 1955 in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK, to Ella May and Eric Atkinson. His father owned a farm where he grew up with his two older brothers, Rupert and Rodney. He attended Newcastle University and Oxford University, where he earned two degrees in electrical engineering. During that time, he met screenwriter Richard Curtis, with whom he wrote and performed comedy revues.

Could the farm where he grew up on have been an animal farm? I mean, where else would he have perfected his facial gimmicks but from gestural communication with animals? I can imagine 12-year-old Atkinson poking his face at the Billy goat, contorting it some, then crawling over to the pigsty and wagging his ears at the animals, while also taking some snorting lessons from the creatures in return, little knowing that this would turn him into a household name.

Atkinson’s style is often physical comedy (visually-based), which sets him apart as most modern TV and film comedies rely heavily on dialogue and standup comedy is mostly based on monologue. It is this talent for visual comedy that has led to Atkinson being called “the man with the rubber face”.

Talk of happiness, sadness, disappointment, anger, guilt, worry, disgust, stress, loneliness, shame, pity, love, embarrassment and ugliness, Mr Bean simply puts on his rubber face, twitches his arms here and there, or kicks the air and leaves his audience is stitches!

His skits, like German comedian Dieter Harllervorden’s (of Didi’s Comedy on UTV in the 1990s), are ludicrously funny and primitively deep, espoused in his endeavours to bring out the best of human childhood. Mr Bean is essentially a child trapped in the body of a man.

All cultures identify with children in a similar way, so he has this bizarre global outreach. For instance, in Mr Bean’s Holiday, when he is driving against time to be at the Cannes Film festival, sleep overpowers him. From slapping himself to burning his fingers and biting himself, nothing can beat sleep. In the end, he pegs his eyelids with toothpicks to keep them open.

But from his own admission, the electrical engineer and father of two says: “People think because I can make them laugh on the stage, I’ll be able to make them laugh in person. That isn’t the case at all. I am essentially a rather quiet, dull person who just happens to be a performer.”

Mr Bean’s funniest surprises are the ones that do not arrive suddenly but instead gather, sneak up on you and percolate impossibly over time. That is his signature performance in Mr Bean’s Holiday and Bean, mainly because he plays the role of such bottomless and perfect contradiction. His flimsy limbs, melancholic gaze, surreal features and guttural pronunciation especially of words and nouns beginning with ‘B’ (he stammers) could not be more ill-fitted to the dumb, childish, happy-go-lucky character he plays.

Atkinson often seems unaware of basic aspects of the way the world works; he makes deliberate attempts at what would normally be considered simple tasks, such as going swimming, using a TV set, redecorating, or going to church. The humour largely comes from his original and often absurd solutions to problems and his total disregard for others when solving them and his pettiness and occasional malevolence. In that persona, only Frank Drebbin (Naked Gun), Groucho Marx (Duck Soup, Bugs Bunny), Dieter Hallervorden (Didi’s Comedy) can come close to his natural ability to portray the absurdities of human life.

Atkinson, more than any other actor of the modern era, has trademarks that few can identify with. The slow-witted yet likeable buffoon who brings various unusual schemes and contrivances to everyday tasks is almost always seen in his trademark tweed jacket and a skinny red tie, without which his skits are almost incomplete.

Add to those characters his penchant for a British Leyland Mini1000 and you have completed the Mr Bean picture. It is the car that he uses in all his films, pulling several antics, such as getting dressed in it, driving while sitting in an armchair strapped to the roof or attempting to avoid a parking garage toll by driving out through the entrance.

Nay, it is not only the Chris Rocks who are good at other comedy genres - anecdotal, blend word, satire, wisecrack - Mr Bean is not limited to the blunder comedy only. Just watch Johnny English, where he plays an M17 detective. At times, he plays authority figures (especially priests) speaking absurd lines with a completely deadpan delivery.

And really, if we can wonder what Paddy Bitama’s children think of him, how about Atkinson? A post on Facebook of one of his mug shot clips where he is doing his facial thing got many wondering whether the childish actor even has children. Well, Atkinson married Sunetra Sastry at the Russian Tea Room in New York City, U.S. The couple has two children, Lily and Benjamin.

Now, whatever Lily and Ben think of their dad is rested because he himself said that what he acts in his clips and movies does not make up what he is. Who knows, he could be the kind who crack the whip.

cap: Mr Bean is not limited to the blunder comedy only. At times, he plays authority figures. Just watch Johnny English (above), where he plays an M17 detective.

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What do our homegrown funnymen have to say about Mr Bean?

Richard Tuwangye, aka Monkey (Fun Factory)
He acts out situations that bring out the commercial fool in him. I think he should be a specimen of some medical research because he either has extra muscles in his face or some weird discontinuous genes.

Alex Muhangi, (Theatre Factory)
Unfortunately, I have really not watched a lot of Mr Bean, but in the few films I have seen, he is a very funny actor. I think he is a good script writer and I respect him for that. If he really writes all his scripts, all I can say is he is too good even for himself.

Kenneth Kimuli, aka Pablo
Mr Bean has a rich sense of humour. He has mastered the art of mime, which gives one an opportunity to think and imagine what could be going on in his mind. He carefully deals with real life issues, giving them a comic twist that leaves one in stitches. His facial expressions and gestures tell a story that doesn’t need dialogue.

Herbert Ssegujja, aka Mendo
He knows what his audience loves. He is the kind you cannot easily mimic because he is weirdly natural.

Daniel Omara
Mr Bean is the master of silent comedy and this puts him a class apart. He is very natural and in bringing out the most of our childhood, he is more than reaching out to the young, because the nostalgia he portrays is rich.

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World famous comedians

Jim Carrey: The weirdo Ace Ventura or the crazy, but lovable Bruce from Bruce Almighty, Carrey is a favourite. He is synonymous with laughter riots.

Bill Cosby: A veteran actor, TV producer, activist and an author, Bill Cosby had also started his career as a stand-up comedian by performing at various clubs. His show titled The Bill Cosby Show in the 90s was one of the all-time popular shows on TV.

Robin Williams
A standup comedian and mimic, Robin Williams is a man with serious acting abilities. We loved him in movies like Jumanji and Mrs Doubtfire. This American star started his career in 1973 and is still going strong.

Steve Martin
When I think about Martin, I think about the movie Father of the Bride, Pink Panther or even Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. This American actor, comedian, musician and playwright is one of the best comedians of all time!

Billy Crystal: He will always be remembered as the endearing and eccentric Harry from the movie When Harry Met Sally. Billy Crystal is not only a comedian, but also an American Golden Globe Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning actor, writer, producer, and film director.

Eddie Murphy
I can’t get over Eddie Murphy’s voice-over for the donkey in the animated movie Shrek. Eddie Murphy is one of the most famous and amazing comedians to date. This talented star proved his worth by “Coming to America”. From the Vampire in Brooklyn to the Nutty Professor, one cannot stop admiring his work. He is a voice-over artiste, actor, director, producer, comedian and singer.

Charlie Chaplin
One of the greatest comedians of the world, Chaplin remains the king of silent comedy.

Ellen DeGeneres
Well, if you thought The Oprah Winfrey Show is awesome, then I am sure you’ll love every bit of The Ellen DeGeneres Show as well. DeGeneres is a famous American comedian who is tremendously popular.

Dave Chappelle
Chappelle is an American standup comedian, actor and satirist. He is famous for his popular sketch comedy TV series Chappelle’s Show.

Chris Rock
“I don’t get high, but sometimes I wish I did. That way, when I messed up in life I would have an excuse. But right now there’s no rehab for stupidity.” This is one of the million hilarious quotes by this funny and talented actor and standup comedian.

Roseanne Barr
She is one of the most popular comedians of her time. Her standup comedy routine received critical acclaim for her unglamourised portrayal of the typical American working-class housewife.