Matt Stewart and Peter Nielson were persuaded by their friend Sarah Bruckschwaiger, to bring to the stage what comes naturally to them – every. waking. second. of the day. : Being Funny. And yes, that’s me capitalizing “Funny”, because these two guys deserve the uppercase kudos. They compliment each other’s sense of humour so seamlessly, that you would swear, even in an interview, that they had been given the script to perfect beforehand.

I’m not normally one to make comparisons, but imagine if you had been able to morph Billy Crystal with Woody Allen, and pair that guy with a David Hyde Pierce/David Spade being, when they were all 20 years-old, and you will get an inkling, just an inkling,  of what’s in store for you with Men Telling Stories.

Sarah Bruckschwaiger has managed to harness these two, with what I can only imagine was a Herculean effort in direction (they never stop). These two could turn Ebenezer Scrooge into a drooling puddle of pant-peeing, eye-tearing guffaws.

Just go see it.

For more information, and to follow  ”That Dinosaur is Blue Productions”  on Facebook:  go here.

Video: Kevin Burton

That one improviser jumped into a van and travelled East to Edmonton to perform a two-person show with a second improviser.

They together then drove to Calgary to pick up a third improviser, and so on performing shows of increasing size in Regina, Winnipeg and Chicago. 

On May 20th, one week after the tour’s kickoff in Vancouver, the big white van (named Vanna White) arrived in Ottawa, picking up an Ottawa Improviser with Crush Improv, Cari Leslie, and play a show at the sold out Elmdale Tavern. 

Then the Tumbleweed continued eastward.

Video courtesy: Kevin Burton

Comedian Dave McConnell bringing comedy to the patrons of Shanghai Restaurant

It’s Friday night and the streets are busy in Ottawa’s Chinatown. Some 20 patrons sit in a dimly lit room near the corner of Bronson and Somerset, sipping wine and picking at bowls of Kung Pao surrounded by informal Asian-funk décor.

Without notice, Anto Chan – a young, Asian lad with a winning smile and straight black hair – gets up to a microphone set near the back wall. There is no stage and two dim lights bathe the “performance area” in a soft yellow glow.

“Welcome to Shanghai Comedy Night!” he intones to scattered applause and bemused looks from patrons who weren’t aware their meal came with a side of entertainment. Anto tosses out some jokes to loosen up the crowd, then introduces the comics.

A 16-year old newcomer who talks about the wonder of sex (“especially,” he quips, “when it’s with another person”), a professional comic who gets laughs simply by spritzing with the crowd, and a comic who flips through his notebook and fires off jokes, defending bits that fall flat (“That’s a good joke!” he snaps at one point). Local pro Alex Wood, has a sprained ankle, so he performs sitting at his table. He shouts jokes, while waving his walking stick at the patrons. The crowd laughs, groans, hoots and applauds, at the end, a basket is passed around for contributions to the “Get the Comics Drunk Fund”.

Clearly, this is not your father’s comedy club.

In fact, it’s not a comedy club at all. It’s Comedy Night at the Shanghai Restaurant, one of many “side rooms” infiltrating Ottawa’s comedy scene.

Ottawa, contrary to its boring government image, is filled with comedic talent. Norm MacDonald, Jeremy Hotz and Star Search winner Tracey MacDonald all started in the nation’s capital. The launching pad for many comics is the venerable and long running “New Talent Night” at Yuk Yuk’s and Absolute Comedy’s “Pro-Am Night”.

The side rooms are a different animal. The rooms are run by comedians, for comedians who love comedy at a different level. A microphone, a basic sound system and a willing proprietor and you’re set. A stage and lighting are nice, but purely optional. “It’s good to get used to playing any kind of room,” says Chan.

“The audience for side rooms are either there for the show or they’re not there for the show,” says Dave Atkinson, a full-time university student and regular performer. “It makes it harder, but it’s a nice challenge: changing people’s plan for the night. ‘Surprise! You have to listen to comedy now. Bet you weren’t expecting this!’
  

Side rooms provide newer comics with much-needed stage time (the only way to learn comedy). Professionals have hundreds of hours of stage time. In Ottawa, amateurs who rely on spots at established clubs get 6-12 minutes of stage time a month. “Doing new talent night at the clubs is supposed to be a learning experience, says Chan, but it’s really an audition. Mangers and money people are watching. With all that pressure, it’s not the best place to learn.” 

The side rooms are quickly becoming a showcase for Ottawa’s best new talent as well as a forum for the city’s burgeoning “alternative” comedy scene. Local professionals can break away from their tired-and-true material and audiences can see new and established acts in an intimate, informal setting.

Side rooms are edgy, exciting and often exhilarating. And isn’t that what comedy’s supposed to be about?

Ottawa Side Rooms:

Shanghai Comedy Night  
651 Somerset Street W (3 doors East of Bronson)

Broadway’s LOL Mondays 
1615 Orleans Blvd.

Whispers Bar & Restaurant 
249 Richmond Road

Finnigan’s Pub-Unknown Comedy Show  
1074 Joliet Street

or visit ottawacomedyresource.com for everything you ever wanted to know about comedy in Ottawa.

Media Advisory:  Improv at the Elmdale: Wednesday, April 21st

What happens when an Ottawa web developer nostalgic for his high school improv days turns 40? You get tavern in your improv! Or is that improv in your tavern?

When Ottawa web developer Patrick Denny and his partner, Vicky Smallman, started planning his 40th birthday celebrations, it just made sense to bring together some of his favourite things – improv and beer – to raise some money for one of his favourite organizations, the Canadian Improv Games.

They enlisted the help of Nat Myles, owner of the Elmdale House Tavern, as well as Scott Florence and AL Connors, both local actors who have a long history with the Canadian Improv Games, Canada’s National high school improv tournament.

“I’m always open to new ideas, and improv seems like a great fit for the Elmdale”, said Nat Myles. “If we have a lot of interest on Wednesday, we might look at making it a regular feature”.

Pat was introduced to the CIG in high school, and continued volunteering to the organization until “real life got in the way.”

“Improv, like web development, is about creating fantastic solutions to unforeseen problems under seemingly impossible deadlines. It’s mental parkour; and it’s loads of fun”, said Denny.

“The best birthday present I could ever get is a packed house and a big donation to the Canadian Improv Games”, Denny added.

Improv at the Elmdale will take place on Wednesday, April 21, 8pm at the Elmdale House Tavern, 1084 Wellington Street West. All proceeds from the minimum $5 cover will go to the Canadian Improv Games

For more information, contact:
Vicky Smallman, 613-295-8129, missvicky@offhand.ca
Patrick Denny, 613-799-1965, heythere@atomicnoggin.ca

Ottawa Tonite is looking for contributors to capture the hilarious goings-on of Ottawa’s vibrant comedy scene.

If you’re interested in being a volunteer contributor, get in touch! info [at] ottawatonite [dot]com and tickle our funny bone!

Just when we thought it would be nice to have even one more venue to showcase great some of the comedic talent in Ottawa, Rachelle Todd provided us with just that.  Last Tuesday night we checked out Capital City Comedy Night at the Pour House for their first night of fun and laughs.  Hosted by Trevor Thompson, the lineup included Ed Gougeon , Dave McConnell, Peter Grunstra, Anto Chan, Rachelle Todd, Tommy Fitz and features Wafik Nasralla.

We met up with Rachelle and Wafik after the show to find out a little bit about Capital City Comedy Night.

For more information on Capital City Comedy Night, Rachelle Todd and Wafik Nasralla, check out the following links:

Capital City Comedy Night

Rachelle Todd

Wafik Nasralla ]]> http://www.ottawatonite.com/2009/10/capital-city-comedy-night-at-the-pour-house/feed/ 0