WILLIAMSBURG — They're trying to bridge the country's divide with comedy.
On Wednesday night a group of local comedians will Skype interview Donald Trump supporters in front of a live audience, in an effort to find common ground between right-wingers and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Comedians Andrew Ritchie and Livia Scott of Upright Citizens Brigade are behind "We Cool," for which they've wrangled in comedians Carolyn Castiglia, Wanjiko Eke, Nick Naney and Kerry Overfab Coddett, and lined up Trump supporters who are open to talking with them.
“The idea that we can’t have a conversation makes me really worried," said Andrew Ritchie.
The night will aim to make "a bridge across human values,” and Ritchie, who added, "I hope it will be good entertainment."
As comedians, they might have a unique advantage to bridge that gap, he said.
“Connecting with an audience as a comedian, you can’t make too many assumptions about what your audience is going to be like."
And he sees common threads with Black Lives Matter and Trump supporter's platforms, he said.
“There’s anger on both sides. There’s concerns about economic inequality, polarization of economic outcomes,” he said. “We kind of saw people being fed up. This idea of being fed up with things."
Organizers culled from Twitter and reached out to family and friends looking for Trump backers willing to talk.
@realDonaldTrump supporters! I'm looking to hear your opinions, please fill out my survey if you have 5 min! https://t.co/QMeacCNAOl
— Andrew Ritchie (@poorlilritchie) July 19, 2016
"WILL IT BE FUNNY? MAYBE! WILL IT BE HORRIFYING? POSSIBLY!," the event page reads.
"We Cool" starts Wednesday night at 8 p.m. at Over the Eight, 594 Union Ave.
