Montreal
Comedy Festival
By
By Mark Glass
Mark Glass is a journalist trapped in a lawyer's body, balancing his
practice with
writing and broadcasting on travel, entertainment and professional sports.
Now
that the Clinton Impeachment Carnival has petered out (pun not intended, but
allowed to remain, anyway), what are we gonna do for grins? We do have our
local comedy clubs, and the usual TV fare, but where can one seriously
overload the circuits with megadoses of humor?
If
you can hold out until mid-July, the answer is Montreal's 17th annual Comedy
Festival - Just for Laughs. What began in 1983 as two nights of
French-language acts has steadily grown through the years to an 11-day
showcase for performers from around the globe. Last year, 722 artists from
15 countries performed at numerous clubs, theaters and outdoor venues, for
1.2 million delighted patrons.
Every
form of comedy is offered, from standup, to improv, to plays and street
performers. Major US stars will headline the Galas. A dozen, or so,
nightclubs showcase relatively fresh faces. Even those who regularly surf
the cable channels in quest of the next Robin Williams will find new treats
from North America and beyond.
The
talent pool is so rich and deep that Just for Laughs has become a focal
point for movers and shakers in the entertainment industry. Many of today's
TV stars, like Tim Allen, Ray Romano and Drew Carey, caught their breaks
there. Local comic Rahn Ramey, a frequent performer at the Westport Funny
Bone, inked a deal for a network sitcom at last year's Festival.
Generally,
the first half of the event features more of the French stars, with the
English-speaking headliners concentrated in the latter days. But throughout,
many of the shows are non-linguistic. The emphasis has progressively moved
towards European street artists, with an array of acts appealing to all ages
and tastes. One such group is Les Plasticiens Volants, which also appeared
at the Barcelona Olympics and the inauguration of the Chunnel.
For
those who've attended before, the multi-stage outdoor setting has been moved
from the riverfront to St. Denis Street in the Latin Quarter - closer to the
clubs and theaters. Every day brings a fresh rotation of slated shows, and
unscheduled treats. In the evenings, club acts start around 7 p.m., with some
going until 2 a.m. On my first visit, three consecutive nights of hopping
from one spot to another for a full seven hours still left me wishing for
more. Even with many of the acts offered more than once, Pentagon
strategists would have a tough time mapping out a method of covering the
bountiful territory.
Much
of the available fun occurs between shows. The Festival is like a class
reunion for the performers, too. You might find yourself next to a Jon
Stewart or Jeff Foxworthy in the audience, watching his pals perform. I met
standup favorites Richard Jeni and Dom Irera, just wandering the streets,
enjoying the atmosphere as much as we civilians. Passing through a hotel
lobby, I found a blow-dried California TV host gamely trying to sequentially
interview Richard Lewis, David Brenner and Norm MacDonald, while fending off
the razzing each gave the others during their turns. The best of those
fast-flying zingers surely never made it to the airwaves.
Though
many names familiar to US audiences are featured, the best reason to go is
the chance to see acts we'll never find at home, even on TV. Four years ago
a pair of siblings from Australia called The Umbilical Brothers blew me
away. They told little stories, primarily acting out races, fights and other
shtick, with mouth-created sound effects, and some of the most agile,
intricately timed slapstick I'd ever seen. I saw them three times that week
- each show was different, and equally hilarious. Yet I've heard nothing of
them since. [Note - if you, kind reader, ever get wind of the lads'
performing where I can see them, please e-mail me through the magazine, and
don't miss it, yourself.
Montreal
is a superb destination for the Festival, and apart forms it. Though French
is the primary language of Quebec, there's no problem in finding
English-speaking locals, especially in the picturesque old part of town
where most of the clubs and theaters are located. Public transportation is
easy to manage, and may be faster than driving and parking. Most venues are
within walking distance of each other for efficient club hopping. Though
there are currently no direct flights there from St. Louis, one can easily
connect through Toronto on Air Canada, or via other cities on various
domestic carriers. Our favorable exchange rate with the Canadian dollar is a
bonus for your budget.
The
announcement of specific acts and show times within the July 15 - 25, 1999,
run of the Festival is scheduled for May 25, and will be posted on its
website at http://ww.hahaha.com. The outdoor performances are free. Tickets for
individual events or packages of shows can be purchased even before then by
calling Phone: 514-845-2322.
# # #
Email: lotekguy@swbell.net (Mark Glass)
Mark Glass is a
Mark Glass is a freelance writer and broadcaster, based in St. Louis, covering travel, entertainment and professional sports for his readers
and listeners. Mark was travel editor for "St. Louis Connoisseur", and
now have that role for "Life in the Midwest", based in Indianapolis.
For the last fifteen years, he's written and broadcast features on
travel, entertainment and sports, while maintaining his law practice in the St. Louis
area. (More about this writer.)
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