British comedian Matt Price (R) and participating audience member Chris. Photograph: Mike Hodgkinson/Phnom Penh Post

Members of Phnom Penh’s African community turned Tuesday night’s Comedy Club at Pontoon into one of the most memorable so far with their gracious effort to compensate for a missing comedian by making the show a truly interactive affair.

Ghanaian stand-up Augustin Dennis, shown on screen in the background, either missed his flight or – as he claimed during his telephone routine – was prevented from arriving because he was “too gorgeous”.

Audience member Chris (in white hat and T-shirt) was quick to fill Dennis’s shoes with his swift wit, good will and announcement that he was single.

Cornwall native Matt Price was masterful: turning damage control into performance art. He’s had rougher gigs than Phnom Penh, he explained in his extended routine.

Once he performed at a prison for the criminally insane, during which he was not allowed to mention sex, violence or anything about the outside world.

He was heckled by a cannibal. “You are a sane man in an insane world,” the cannibal cooed. “Your sanity means nothing to me.”

Other members of the prison audience joined in, urging the heckler on. “Eat him Peter,” they chanted.

Price says he is keen to return to Phnom Penh on holiday, while Dennis promised to perform at the next show slated for August.