Meet Vancouver-based comedian, Dion Arnold.
Dion next appears in his solo show How I Killed My Nan as part of Staircase Theatre’s Replay: A Bunch of Great Plays Again. The festival features a collection of the company’s favourite shows and artists from this year’s Vancouver Fringe Festival. Replay plays the Havana Theatre (1212 Commercial Dr, Vancouver) October 15-19. Visit staircasetheatre.com for tickets and information.
20 Questions with Dion Arnold
1. Your first job.
Paintball course host. I used to lead groups around and mostly yell “Put your mask on!” at idiots trying to lose an eye.
2. The job you always wanted as a child?
I always wanted to be a lazy man who just had to talk words on stage for five minutes at a time. Turns out its way harder than it looks. So now I just want to write wills for people and put myself in every one.
3. Your pet peeve.
The Sound of people chewing. Something about them just choosing to sustain themselves? Ugh, bleck. Honestly, the sound of suffering is more calming.
4. Your hero.
Netflix. Are they reading this? Book me.
5. Your biggest indulgence.
The answers I’m giving this interview.
6. One thing no one knows about you.
Oh, what a story.
7. Three things you would want with you on a deserted island.
A Bottomless buffet, a film crew, and a direct feed to Bear Grylls so I can rub it in his face.
8. The one word your best friend would use to describe you.
Loud.
9. If they made a movie about your life, who would it star?
Who would they choose? I’d choose Meg Ryan. Its the only way she’ll ever know me that intimately… They’d choose nowadays McCully Caulkin.
10. Hero or villain?
Chaotic good.
11. Your life’s motto/mantra.
Seek discomfort.
12. Your favourite playwright?
Anybody telling new stories.
13. The last book you read.
I had a fellow in Winnipeg give me a copy of He Won’t Get Far On Foot after a show. I later realized it was a friend’s dad. It’s been a really good read. I really love the pacing of it.
14. If you were a cartoon character, what cartoon character would you be, and why?
I would have loved to play Pinky in Pinky and the Brain. Such a great Buffoon character. And you get to work with Spielberg.
15. What will it say on your grave marker?
Hear Lies: Vote Scheer.
16. Who would you most like to have dinner with?
The inventor of the Slap Chop. See if he’s happy with himself.
17. Your idea of happiness.
Honestly, I think the happiest I could ever be is being given the ability to revisit any memory. I have this obsession with the moments I’ve lived and will never get back. Those dwindling childhood memories.
18. If you could go back in time, what would you tell your twenty-year-old self?
See ya in a year bitch!
19. The one thing in your life that makes you most proud.
Making myself laugh.
20. To be or not to be?
Eh, we’ll see.
Meet Dion Arnold
Dion Arnold is a Canadian comedian best known for his Fringe Festival show How I Killed My Nan. Born and raised a country kid outside of Edmonton Alberta and moved to Vancouver, Arnold laughs more at himself than anyone else. A breath of fresh air for insecure Vancouver.
You can find out more about Dion on his website or Facebook.