Moose Jam Comedy's First Big Event Hits A Funny Bone
By Robert Thomas
It was billed as a night of cheap laughs and more giggles for your buck as Moose Jam Comedy latest production filled the Downtown with laughter on Friday evening.
Featuring the well known Tim Nutt, rising comedy star He Fangzou and budding local comedian Garrett DeLaurier the 90 minute show had the crowd laughing in stitches.
Moose Jam Comedy is the brainchild of DeLaurier who has big plans to put Moose Jaw on the comedy circuit.
The show kicked off with DeLaurier tackling local issues and politics as he skewered the City's re-inventing itself through the Notorious campaign.
The local comedian, who made his hometown stand-up premiere, had a brilliant opening five minute set where the punchline would not have made him a favorite at City Hall or with Tourism Moose Jaw.
Basing how things were “Surprisingly Unexpected” DeLaurier had the crowd laughing about Moose Jaw's pothole predicament stating the City's new slogan needed to be “Good Enough For Now” given the temporary basis of the quality of the repairs.
DeLaurier's humour hit a strong note when he spoke about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the blackface scandal and how it played in the minority government election result.
“He wanted to be part of a minority and now he is,” DeLauier joked setting the house on fire.
New Canadian comedian He Fangzou hit the stage just after DeLauirer.
He Fangzou's routine was by far the riskiest of the night but he managed to pull it off in front of a Prairie audience.
He started talking about being out of place in the comedy circuit like “a white guy playing ping pong” which brought applause from the audience.
The stereotypes of moving to Canada and how Asian people try to fit into Canadian society featured heavily in his set with a cutting and risky approach to the subject.
It's a comedy routine where Fangzou mixes in the realities of his life in Canada in such a way to break the convention of political correctness but not in a way which uses people being offended to score comedy points.
Fangzou's routine is close to comedian Margaret Cho where it is really a social critique of fitting in and being part of a bigger society. An Asian perspective against a great Canadian Caucasian canvas.
It is a shot against the stereotype of Asian people many people have and how in many ways it is illogical to the point of silliness.
Tim Nutt (left) gives the thumbs up sign as contest winner Perry Avinou met thr comedian backstage and chatted for ten minutes over a cigarette
Following a brief intermission DeLaurier returned for another five minute set.
In the second set he attempted to expand beyond the boundaries of his Moose Jaw experience which was a little flat and did not resonate as strongly than his first set.
There was a glimpse of humour in the routine but the jokes in many ways just did not resonate as strongly as his first set with the audience where he was in familiar territory talking about the Moose Jaw experience.
DeLaurier managed though to display brilliance in recovering the set back to his own life and his telling of the Halloween costumes his sister's children would be wearing.
By far the star of the night was Tim Nutt who had the audience breaking out into laughter as his dry wit and observations on life seemingly resonated through a century old theatre like an opera the original Capital Theatre was built for.
It was a humour the veteran comedian was able to pulsate out to the crowd where the smallest of things and observations of life made laughter from some bygone vaudeville performance fill the Mae Wilson Theatre.
Was there profanity in his act? Yes, but it was a subtle form of swearing not designed to shock but rather a soft emphasis approach to what life is all about.
In many ways it was a humour and sense of wit which easily adapted to the audience. It was a routine not designed to put down and belittle life but brilliantly critique it.
Speaking after the show DeLaurier described the event as “it was lots of fun” and “the entire experience exceeded my expectations.”
“The audience was just fantastic and I'm glad we gave them a lot of fun and a lot of laughs. I'm happy they went away laughing.”
The Mae Wilson Theatre was not full for the event but DeLaurier did not rule out holding another major comedy event.
Will his dream of having an open mic in Moose Jaw continue? It is something for DeLaurier which is not out of the picture. Each outing for his fledgling Moose Jam Comedy dream has brought in more people and has had additional momentum as it has risen in popularity.
It is also something Nutt commented on over a cigarette following the show “you just have to promote and work on it but the base is here.”
MJ Independent meet and greet contest winner Perry Avinou called the entire event hilarious and just what Moose Jaw needed.
“Those in Moose Jaw who did not come out to this definitely lost out on a great night,” Avinou said.
Avinou himself is a bit of a local legend on the local entertainment scene having served as quiz master at Bobby's Place for Thursday Night Trivia for five years.
“Garrett is an up and coming comedian he is what I would say is a budding star, he has talent.”
“I use to go to comedy nights in Regina but it is great to see comedy come here. Moose Jaw needs comedy. People need to go home laughing after all of the negative and bad news stories that seem to be out there,” Avinou said.
“Ginger Beef (Fangzou) was totally hilarious. It is good to see his perspective when it comes to Canada it helps to bridge our differences.”
About headliner Tim Nutt Avinou said the veteran was “a true professional” and his comedy was getting better with age.
“I think his comedy has improved. The last time I saw him perform (at the now defunct Watt's on Main) he was funny but this time he was hilarious. I think as he has gotten older his comedy has gotten better.”
Although he was a contest winner Avinou was appreciative of the free show.
“I want to thank MJ Independent and Garrett DeLaurier (from Moose Jam Comedy) for running the contest. I appreciate the opportunity to come out to this and meet Tim Nutt. This is the type of thing Moose Jaw needs.”
If Moose Jam Comedy is to succeed at the dream of an open mic at a local watering hole and bigger and better things they have their first fan.