Out and about
Chicago native Aaron Caponigro and his 11-year-old son, Jacob, form the comedy duo UnRelated. They have been performing sketch comedy in and around the city and elsewhere in the Midwest for the past year and a half, but have known each other much longer than that.
Dad: Jacob, come in here please. We need to do our interview for Chicago Parent magazine.
Jacob: Aww, but I was going to call Stu for a sleepover.
Dad: Gotta do this first.
Jacob: But I have to call him now before he makes plans!
Dad: Tough bananas. You’ve put this off long enough.
Jacob: OK. I just need to save this game first.
(Several minutes pass)
Dad: Jacob get in here. We have a deadline!
Jacob: Coming! Right after I finish this text message.
Dad: Alright. Enough. What you are doing is called procrastination.
Jacob: I’ll never remember that.
Dad: Let’s start. Ask me a question.
Jacob: Can I call Stu?
Dad: A question for the interview.
Jacob: Fine. What’s your favorite TV show? Mine’s SpongeBob SquarePants.
Dad: I like 30 Rock. And SpongeBob SquarePants. What is one thing you want parents to know?
Jacob: Once your kid has outgrown a toy, you have to stop playing with it, too.
Dad: But Bob the Builder can fix anything!
Jacob: Yes he can. But I’d really like some new wallpaper. If you could be any Star Wars character who would you be? I’d be Chewbacca.
Dad: I’m a Yoda.
Jacob: What’s your favorite toy? Mine’s LEGOs.
Dad: I’m partial to my Foosball table. Your questions are like a fifth-grader’s! Here, ask these.
Jacob: How has being a parent changed you?
Dad: I never used to talk to myself this much. And I give out more time-outs now. What’s something you like to do with your dad besides performing?
Jacob: I like when we read together and do the voices of the characters. What is something you wish to teach your child, errr, me?
Dad: Calculus. But I have to learn it first. What is something you wish to teach your future child?
Jacob: Never tickle a badger. Especially when they are hungry. They hate that.
Dad: What is the best lesson you have learned in your life so far?
Jacob: Never tickle a hungry badger.
Dad: Jacob, that’s not a real lesson.
Jacob: So I should tickle a badger?
Dad: Jacob, there IS NO BADGER! That was a story I made up when you were 3 so you would be quiet in the car. Try again, best lesson?
Jacob: Grown-up questions are boring.
Dad: One more time.
Jacob: I don’t know. Something about procrasti-something.
Dad: Procrastination. See? You remembered. Ask me one more question and the interview is over.
Jacob: Can I call Stu now?
More on this father-son team and their upcoming performances can be found at www.unrelatedcomedy.com
