Review: Just for Laughs has a distinguished British accent (Includes first-hand account)
Not all senses of humour are universal, but the Brits have been making people laugh the world over for decades. BBC comedies have dedicated followings and troupes like Monty Python have captured the adoration of audiences for decades. Therefore it’s not surprising there would be a programme at the Just for Laughs festival dedicated to comedians from the UK. Hosted by Mark Watson, “Brit(ish)” delivered six comedians whose one commonality is their citizenship.
Ranging from their first time in Montreal, to their first time in Canada, to repeat attendees of the festival, these men and women brought with them a variety of experiences representing different demographics. Gina Yashere is an ex-pat living in New York who drew on her experiences as a black lesbian and appreciated the openness of Montreal’s gay community. One of her best jokes involved all the doors being labelled with the French word for “push” (pousser) and an obvious variation on the pronunciation of said word.
Russell Kane is an incredibly energetic comedian who took the stage in a bow tie and constantly moved around doing humorous walks and telling stories from every possible angle… including one that placed his crotch in another gentleman’s face. Conversely, Nish Kumar opened the show in a very conventional manner — drink on stool, mic in hand — referring to his career as a comedian and his family’s reaction to his unconventional vocation. Daniel Sloss also talked about his family, but in a much more self-deprecating manner convinced that his mother loves him more than his father… possibly because he calls him “step dad” just to aggravate him.
Watson’s applause coaching was completely unnecessary, as all six acts were clearly talented and earned every bit of laughter and praise that came their way. Presented at the Club Soda, audiences received an authentic comedy club experience without any of the concerns regarding entertainment quality.
