INTERVIEWING three people on the phone simultaneously is always a tough task: interviewing three absurdists from comedy group Asperger's Are Us on the phone simultaneously is nigh-on impossible.
Talking to New Michael Ingemi, Ethan Finlan and Jack Hanke is like having a chaotic conference call with three extremely droll and quick-witted friends who delight in constantly playing off each other's words for comedic effect – often leaving you scrambling to keep up.
This all-'Aspie' US sketch comedy troupe got their first taste of global fame last year when director Alex Lehmann's acclaimed documentary Asperger's Are Us landed on Netflix.
I spoke to three-quarters of the AAU team last week as they neared the end of their first ever tour of 'The British Isles' (which includes two dates in Germany, oddly enough), a completely self-organised affair which finds the funnymen staying with fans after shows and utilising public transport.
"We're doing it all ourselves," confirms New Michael (as distinct from Michael, his dad). "I did most of the booking for our European tour, Ethan is doing most of the booking for our American tour."
"In some cases, we had fans pointing us in the direction of venues and one very gracious fan in Wales set up a crowdfund to pay for our flights and some lights and shirts and things as well [the group's signature slogan T-shirts 'I don't want your pity' and 'Ask me about my fear of strangers' are big sellers], but beyond that it's been all DIY.
"We've been taking all buses and trains to travel and staying with fans or couch surfing. People have been incredibly generous."
Ethan agrees: "It's truly remarkable and we're so grateful for everything."
However, when I suggest that eventually the group might like to upgrade their accommodation on future tours, Jack reveals a sinister ulterior motive for AAU's DIY tactics.
"We've been having the fans who we've been staying with sign over the deeds to their houses," he jokes. "So, in fact we're actually staying in our own properties. We suspect that hotels wouldn't do that, so that's why we can't stay in any."
The trio first met at a summer theatre camp for kids on the autism spectrum where Noah Britton, the group's fourth member and unofficial leader, was a counsellor.
Throughout a succession of summers, the four bonded over a shared love of absurdist humour including touchstones like Monty Python, Airplane!, Kids in The Hall and South Park.
They formed Asperger's Are Us in 2010 and were being tracked by Alex Lehmann's camera just three years later – though the group insist on referring to David Attenborough's Planet Earth as their first documentary appearance, "in the satellite shots".
To their chagrin, Lehmann's film focused predominantly on their Asperger's rather than the group's actual comedy ("there wasn't enough nudity either," quips Ethan).
However, were it not for their name, Asperger's Are Us's sketches could easily be mistaken for the work of any group of witty, slightly dorky and entirely neurotypical young men with an appealingly warped sense of humour.
Their best 'bits' include a dark little skit in which a family throws a 'funeral party' for their increasingly horrified child, and a farcical job interview during which the loony applicant reveals how he applied to get on the sex offenders' register.
"I figured it would be a great way to meet my neighbours," he explains.
Still, the Asperger's Are Us documentary has been a highly effective marketing tool for its titular troupe, who include a Q&A section in their live shows during which they will happily discuss autism/Asperger's and anything else the audience wants to ask about.
In fact, the group even have plans to provide a little bonus content for the documentary to enhance the viewing experience for fans.
"Yeah, we're going to make a commentary track for it pretty soon," New Michael tells me.
"Then, we'll make a commentary track of that commentary track and finally a commentary track of that commentary track – which is the one we'll be releasing."
Since the doc hit Netflix, an increasing number of people have been seeking out Asperger's Are Us material online and buying tickets for their live shows.
"The tour has been going great," enthuses Ethan of the current dates, which kicked off on The Isle of Wight last month.
"I mean, some shows haven't had great turn-out, but other than that we've been having a lot of fun and we're really excited to come to Belfast for the first time."
And do any of them have Irish blood?
"Yes, I keep a vial of Irish blood on me at all times," enthuses Jack, rather worryingly.
The next logical step for the troupe would seem to be a professionally recorded comedy special, perhaps for Netflix, to properly showcase their comedy talents.
"That would be awesome, we would love that," enthuses Ethan.
"And we do have some ideas in the works. In fact, this interview is actually being live streamed on Netflix right now."
"Yeah, actually we already wrote a very preliminary draft of a script for a special," adds Jack.
"So stay tuned!"
Asperger's Are Us, tonight, Bar Sub, QUBSU, 7pm. Tickets £10. Visit Geocities.ws/aspergersareus
