Moose Jam Comedy Aims To Tap City's Funnybone
Tim Nutt October 25th 7 pm at the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre's Mae Wilson Theatre - Advance tickets $20 or $25 at the door
By Robert Thomas
Garrett DeLaurier has a dream. A dream to make Moose Jaw laugh.
For the past year DeLaurier has been busy working on his laughter project called Moose Jam Comedy.
“It's a play on words. It’s a turn of a phrase,” he explains “in the United States they had in the Nineties something called Def Jam Comedy.”
Def Jam Comedy explains DeLaurier was a bunch of comedians who had an ensemble comedy show.
“I wanted to play on those words and make something similar hopefully for Moose Jaw,” he said, adding “a type of show where people could come out for a laugh to have something different.”
DeLaurier, who has played in a band, said comedy is something he always wanted to do but there is no local venues to perform at. So he took the financial plunge and started his own production company to make the Friendly City a really Notoriously Funny City.
“I always wanted to do comedy and there never was any place to perform around here. Nothing is happening locally. In a Regina and Saskatoon they have open mic nights but there is nothing here in Moose Jaw.”
“This is my attempt to make comedy more frequent, more accessible and more affordable.”
“I always played in bands and always played music but I always wanted to do comedy. I always wanted to be part of a show so I have been going to open mics in Oregon and Saskatoon to perfect my craft. But I also want something here in Moose Jaw.”
DeLaurier said from his own life experience and talking to people at his job and elsewhere in the city that Moose Javians like comedy. But there is little opportunity or too expensive to attend.
“You never see too many comedy shows happening here locally and this is my attempt to bring more comedy to Moose Jaw.”
DeLaurier said it is great to see such acts as Red Green and Brent make Moose Jaw a tour stop but he would like to see more comedy in Moose Jaw at affordable prices.
He also hopes provide a venue for local jokesters to come out to test material, improve and possibly even become discovered.
To help make his dream come true DeLaurier not only started Moose Jam Comedy but has so far financed three shows. Each time he finances a show he said it is all at his own personal risk.
“I hope the shows turn out and people come out and enjoy them. The more people who come out and support them the more and bigger name comedians and shows I can bring to Moose Jaw,” he said.
DeLaurier sees comedy as something which can not only bring laughs but also offer another activity for people to enjoy locally.
“There is nothing wrong with theatre or music this is just something else for people to do,” he said, adding “I think it adds to the city and gives people the opportunity to see some great comedy and spend money locally. Right now people are traveling to Regina and Saskatoon because there is nothing here.”
He said in some ways his project is growing slowly as people are recognizing him from the shows he has produced, his posters as well as Facebook.
“People are starting to talk. I walk in to get my car serviced and people are talking about it because they noticed my posters or my Facebook. It is a lot if word of mouth and people are starting to talk about it. I am starting to get some good feedback “
As he has slowly built a following DeLaurier has jumped in with both feet when in his third production he pulled off a major comedic coup by landing Tim Nutt as a headliner.
Nutt who has performed in Montreal's Just For Laughs Comedy Festival as well as being named Sirius XMs Top Comedian in 2016 recently played the Mitsui Café to an intimate crowd of about 40 left with rave reviews.
“Tim Nutt is a top quality comedian. He is on top of his game and has really quality material.”
After the success with Nutt's performance and many people telling him they were sad they missed the show DeLaurier decided to take the big plunge and bring him back headlining the 400 plus seat Mae Wilson Theatre.
As part of his labour of love DeLaurier saved all of the extra money from his job to rent the theatre, pay the comedians as well as the promotion.
He also chose an up and coming performer, He Fangzou, whose humour is starting to catch on and become popular.
“He (He Fangzou) has a very unique take at being a Canadian and being a new Canadian he is very funny himself as well.”
Fangzou, who performed comedy in his native China before immigrating to Canada, has been featured on CBC as well as Sirius XM.
Here is an interview where Fangzou explains how is approach to comedy in the cultural divide.
As part of the show DeLaurier himself will be the opening act making his Moose Jaw comedic debut.
“I have been performing at open mic shows and perfecting my act. I don't think my jokes will bomb nor ruffle any feathers,” DeLaurier said when asked if he feared being tarred and feathered and ultimately run out of town.
“I am not taking out the knives. I am just making funny observations. My humour is centered around my life and Moose Jaw I think people will enjoy it.”
Hoping to do well on the show DeLaurier said proceeds will be used to bring in more comedians for bigger shows but he also would like to start his own regular open mic show here locally.
“There is going to be a large portion of it go into the next show if I do well I will keep on bringing in more shows.”
Asked to dream for a minute who he would like to suddenly drop in and offer to perform for free he said Rick Moranis.
“I would love to hold an open mic and have him show up. I would put on a toque crack open a beer and sit right next to him like Bob and Doug McKenzie.”
In reality though he hopes to see a comedic genius develop here locally.
“I’m trying to start a weekly open mic for people in Moose Jaw to come out and try out their material. Maybe we have a Daman Wayans here locally.”
The show is Friday October 25th at 7 pm at the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre's Mae West Theatre. Tickets may be purchased for $20 in advance at the Cultural Centre's Box Office or on-line by clicking here.
Tickets, if any are available, may be purchased for $25 at the door.