Comedy
Brian Lazanik
Proud FM Night @ Absolute Comedy
BY Sean Davidson August 20, 2008 12:08
A Pride event? In August? Forgive me, but isn't that about two months later than this planet's usual celebrations of all things rainbow-colored?
Yes, technically. But no, not really, as it turns out, since the Tuesday night show at Absolute Comedy wasn't so much a pride event as a Proud event — as in the queer-aimed radio station that hoisted its rainbow logo over the new-ish club for a night of sometimes homo (and sometimes not) stand up and sketch.
Or "W-gay-RP" as the always bitchy Richard Ryder put it during his set, working the crowd into an appreciative froth ahead of an almost effortless appearance by headliner Brian Lazanik.
You might think that the less-than-flamboyant Lazanik — playing the dazed and off-balance schlub, dressed in what looked like the ill-fitting pajamas of a homeless man — would look a little out of place on the bill next to the bearish and squealing Ryder, three-man sketch troupe Cocky and confessed fag hag/host Deb DiGiovanni. But the night was loosely themed at best, and Lazanik got the crowd rolling just the same with his deadpan bits about laser eye surgery and the most reliable ways to contract Hepatitis A.
They were laughing at his set ups, never mind the laugh lines, before too long — a strong finish to a show that saw only a few misfires. Cocky's overlong and sitcom-esque sketch about a former couple who meet again at a dating service took a long time to go nowhere in particular, while, earlier on, Andrew Johnston seemed to have a hard time clicking with the crowd despite good material.
Organizers won't say for certain if there will be other Proud events at Absolute, though the club seems to be experimenting with theme nights as it looks to stake its claim on the local stand up scene — taking over for the dear, departed Laugh Resort as an alternative to Yuk Yuk's.
The club is hosting the fourth and perhaps final Colours of Comedy show on Aug 26, (organizer Alex Kojfman is making the move to L.A.) and over four nights this fall will be home to Stand Up & Bite Me, a contest hosted by Jason Blanchard of The Comedy Clinic. The details are up on the Clinic's Facebook page but, briefly, he's looking for DVD submissions not less than 15 minutes long and has is putting $5,000 up for grabs.
BEST BET
Laugh Sabbath marks its second anniversary on Sunday (Aug. 24) at The Rivoli with stand-up, sketch, shorts and what-have-you by regulars like Levi MacDougall and James Hartnett, plus musical guest Bob Wiseman. 334 Queen St. W. 9pm PWYC.
625 Church St, 6th Floor, Toronto M4Y 2G1