Aleksandr Popov: 50 Shades of Bouncer

It’s a rainy Thursday evening at Ratas & Kohv, a bicycle shop/café located in a quirky corner building near the Hippodrome. The crowd is thin tonight, likely due to the weather, as a mixture of Estonians and foreigners drift in, shaking off their raincoats and tucking their umbrellas away by the door. People mill about, grabbing cocktails and coffees from the bar before settling into chairs and sofas arranged around the stage. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxed, perfect for a drizzly evening, as the audience warms themselves over their hot drinks.

A tall, thin man steps onto the stage, introducing himself as an Estonian comedian named Rauno. He works to heat up the crowd a bit further, quipping about his dating life and coaxing out laughs from the spectators, before welcoming on the headliner for tonight, Aleksandr Popov.

Popov is a burly, jolly man, with a striking orange beard and a friendly demeanor. His clothes are comfy streetwear and fit his persona perfectly: From the red beanie to the plaid shirt to the sneakers, he looks like the casually cool cousin you’d want to hang with at the cookout. His style is relaxed and personal, and he connects easily with the crowd throughout his show.

There are moments when Popov’s anecdotes don’t seem to get much out of the lethargic crowd, perhaps because of the weather. Yet the magic happens as soon as he goes off script, giving asides and peppering in personal anecdotes here and there. The crowd seems most engaged by these impromptu moments, laughing along and leaning forward in their chairs, eager for more. After the show, a couple of spectators mention that these bits were their favorite parts. 

Overall, Popov’s performance feels warm—like you’re sitting at a bar, chatting with a funny friend over a pint of beer. “I really like him as a person,” one says, mentioning that he seems like a cool guy. “I liked his confidence,” another adds, longing to see him do “a whole show of just improv.” The audience members I spoke to agree that they enjoyed his asides most of all and agreed, against the stereotypical comedy crowd in Estonia, that they would love to see more of his less-scripted material in the future. I couldn’t agree more on all accounts. And while Popov’s Tallinn Fringe offerings may be over for this year, we can hope to see him again in the future – a rare gem of a comedian who makes crowd work the place where really shines.

To check out Aleksandr Popov’s work and keep an eye out for any upcoming shows, you can find him on Instagram @50shadesofbouncer.

Author: Lily Strider