This Week in Comedy: Quinn C. Martin, Bad Dog Theatre's Zombie Toronto, Wheel of Improv, Sunday Night Live
This week, I highlight a world that doesn't get nearly enough attention as it should: the beautiful, eclectic universe that is the Toronto sketch and improv scene. Yes And with me as I walk you through This Week In Comedy...
SUN JUNE 16 / SUNDAY NIGHT LIVE / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 9PM / $10
When I went to last week's edition of The Sketchersons' Sunday Night Live, I immediately picked up a sense of community from the people in the audience. I loved the way that they highlighted their guest host, Dan Galea. Cast member Jeremy Woodcock, whom I've previously spotlit for his excellent video game sketch with Rulers of the Universe, made news this week with his endearing look at Bessarion Station, the least-used stop on our subway network. Look for their entry in this year's Laugh Sabbath Film Festival on June 16th at 330PM entitled Ways to a Newer You, which was directed by Andy Auld and written by Phil Moorhead.
TUES JUNE 18 / WHEEL OF IMPROV / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 930PM / $5
Running out of things to talk about on the patio? Perhaps your inner child needs a chance to breathe! Grab a seat in the back and watch professional improvisers support amateurs by playing games dictated by the big wheel. You'll find yourself drawn to the the middle of the room when you see how fun the games are. Finally, at the encouragement of your friends, race to the front and go up! It's fun, you'll meet new friends, and you're inner child will thank you for it.
WED JUNE 19 / BAD DOG THEATRE PRESENTS: ZOMBIE TORONTO / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 930PM / $12
Ugh, this show is soooo good! It's almost criminal to have these many 端ber-talented improvisers in the same same stage. Last week, Kirsten Rasmussen stole the show with her heightened yet realistically-dialogued portrayal of a suppressed housewife. No wait, Peter Stevens stole it from her with his monologue game Should Have. No hold on...wowzers. It seemed that every time a new pairing took to the stage, the players took things to a new level. You know you have a great show when the reviewer has no idea how to cover everything adequately. I encourage you all to see this show before these players are whisked away to Hollywood.
SAT JUNE 22 / BASIC QUINNSTINCT / MAPLE LEAF GARDENS / 50 CARLTON / 10PM / $20
At the last show, Quinn had the audience raving from bell to bell, which is no small feat considering he comes up with a new 45-60 every six to nine weeks! A lot of people wonder how he does it, and I'll let you in on his secret: he's hilarious, he's business-minded, and his prowess in front of the camera keeps him away from wasting his energy at a nine to five. Oh, and he wakes up at 6AM everyday to work out, stays in close contact with his fans, has a voracious writing regimen...long story short, there is no easy recipe to success. Many skeptics will point at the inclusion of Scratch, legendary beatboxer for The Roots, as the real draw, but Quinn was selling out shows well before the man behind the invisible one's and two's was opening for him. PS - Scratch's mixtape drops soon time! Disclaimer: Quinn's a good friend of mine
About the Author: This is Michael Jagdeo, and I refuse to write about myself in the third-person. My blog, Diary of a Stand-up Comedian, walks you through the up's and down's (they're mostly down's, really) in my quest to become a killer comic in Toronto.
Join the conversation Load comments