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Just for Laughs Comedy Tour - 2003
Orpheum
Vancouver, BC
November 14, 2003
October 21- November 16, 2003 (18 cities)
St. John's NFLD to Victoria. BC
WEB: hahaha.com
Starring…
Reviewed by: Caesi Bevis and Guest: Paige Garnett
Our Scorecard: 1-5 (5 was outstanding!)
Joey Elias: 4
Mitch Fatel: 3
Adam Ferrara: 5
John Maloney: 2
Rick Mercer: 5
Derek Edwards: 1
Rick Mercer, winner of 20 Gemini Awards, and who made comedy
history with his show “Rick Mercer’s Talking to
Americans” (the highest rated comedy show in the history
of Canada) hosted this evening. Shortly before Rick arrived
on stage, a “house band” (apparently unnamed as
even the sound techs were not aware of them having a name)
treated the approaching full auditorium audience to some awesome
cover tunes, as last minute arrives straggled in. The set
design was really cute - almost a Middle Eastern style motif
with cute green characters popping outside the motif lines
in random places.
Rick opened with some light conversation, easing us into
some highbrow level humour at the expense of the American
government, and jokes about traveling across country with
the others. Rick’s humour totally lightened my day!
It was so ‘dead-on’ for what is happening, in
my - and apparently Rick’s - opinion, in the States.
Instantly, he not only had my attention, I eagerly wanted
to meet with him over several long hours and endless cups
of coffee to discuss and exchange information sources. I felt
like he was a kindred spirit - not only does he seem extremely
well informed, he seems to be tracking the changes to American
taken-for-granted freedoms as closely as I am. His commentary
on “Paul Martin becoming our new unofficial Prime Minister”,
was not only funny, it was very informative. (It seems we
have a new Prime Minister, not elected by the people, just
like the US has a President not elected by the people. It’s
a strange thing to have in common with the States. My eyes
wandered the room to see who else was “getting”
the significance of what Rick was joking about that had such
as serious message behind it. It was hard to tell. People
were laughing at and with Rick, but were they “getting”
it? One person I met recently told me, “If you want
to find out what is ‘really’ happening politically,
don’t listen to the news, listen to comedians, they
get it ‘right’.” I called him and told him
to start listening to Rick Mercer, every chance he gets.
Joey Elias, from Montreal, and well-known for his work on
the “Just for Laughs” Gala Show and Road Show
in 2002, CTV’s “Comedy Now” and MTV’s
“Road Rules” was up first as the guest comedian.
Joey, who arrived wearing a hockey shirt, made jokes about
his weight, general comments on life, and his Jewish background.
Some of his lines were missed just because the audience was
laughing so hard! He’s brilliant.
One of his funniest moments was discussing an incident around
hip-hop language where guys had approached him and said, “Yo!”
then did an arm motion looking like they wanted to hug him.
He presumed that they wanted to, but due to his tummy couldn’t.
So, he asked “Do you want to hug me? I don’t know
you.” He thought it was a little odd - just about as
odd as if he were to go up to a strange attractive woman and
make a hip thrusting gesture as though he wanted to bed her.
John Maloney, from Britain, next up, opened his monologue
with discussing his “lesbian style butch haircut”.
The comment drew moderate laughter. In his deadpan style he
delivered comedy one liners about his family, and mother,
and life in Britain, including comments on the Royal family
and Camilla - that he name sounds like a disease. One long
build up of rapid fire speech about sperm eagerly waiting
to connect and become a person to become someone famous, culminating
with being shot all over someone’s tits and a headboard,
has us writing off John as ‘just another comedian needing
to turn to stand up about sex in order to ‘try’
to be funny.’
Mitch Fatel from New York arrived on stage pretending to
be a pre-pubescent boy still infatuated with small breasts
and girls. His jokes were pathetic, but he seemed to get a
little funnier as he warmed up, and started interacting with
a poor girl in the front row who he wouldn’t leave alone.
When he was getting better, he had a cute segment about being
a “good boyfriend” because he would go to the
store with “a list” for his girlfriend. Then he
could meet other guy friends there who had also been sent
with a list - and learning not to return with orange juice
with pulp in it…. because you will be sent back to the
store. His humour maybe works best with young 20 somethings.
Adam Ferrara, from New York and who looks alike Tony Danza
- or at least from a distance - came out on stage wearing
Joey’s shirt, and looking very cute. He used a limited
stand up routine with lots of comments on New York and traveling
across country with 7 guys on one bus. He played amazingly
well off audience provided information. He about lost it when
he asked one man what he does and he answered a “tree
service”. Adam had no clue what to do with that - but
once he got started, he was on a roll and extremely funny.
He asked the guy how long he had been married - then said,
“oh, or should I just ‘count the rings’?”
The audience roared with laughter! This man is a natural talent
- he needs his own sitcom or something. He was certainly in
the same league with Rick Mercer.
Derek Edwards from Canada, from the “Red Green Show”
came out last. If the goal was to have a build up to the best
being last, it was wasted on Derek. He arrived on stage, and
immediately something seemed ‘wrong’. He was stumbling,
wandering, seemed to not be into delivering his monologue
as his speech was garbled. He stumbled through his words and
frequently was off balance on his feet. When he did deliver
‘something’ all that was understandable was something
about his wife being a “twit”. His behavior seemed
to not be part of the act. You could audibly hear the audience
shifting in their seats. It was a disappointment, and some
of the audience began to leave. We had most looked forward
to seeing him. [We asked the show publicist about this and
were assured this peculiar behavior was part of Derek’s
act. If is was, it didn’t “work” for him.]
Overall, the Just for Laughs Comedy Tour
was successful, and we would welcome them back to Vancouver
any day.
Paige’s comments:
“I liked Rick Mercer's job as host/MC. If anyone wants
to know the political climate of Canada, he sums it up perfectly.
I loved the idea that these 7 men have been touring together
on a bus across Canada. Now that must be a hoot & a half
in itself. That they played off of each other a bit was good
and why wouldn't they, they've been living together like some
traveling frat house for however long?!
Being the niggly person I can be, I would find a way to say
that the last guy, Derek Edwards, was awful.
Overall, it was great to have the Just For Laughs
here in Vancouver.”
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