The World’s Biggest Improv Tournament and TOsketchfest hit the city this month, bringing world-class entertainers and tasteful fart jokes to the Hogtown stage. Who gets the last laugh?
| When I was in Grade 2, my teacher showed a picture of a cattail plant in class, which spurred a reaction in me where I jumped out of my chair, pointed and screamed, “Those look like hot dogs!” and did a little dance to thunderous laughter. So maybe then? | When did you first realize you were funny? | I realized at a young age I’d do anything for a laugh. When I was nine, my friends and I were tobogganing. I found a frozen piece of dog crap and, without thinking, picked it up and pretended to smoke it like a big cigar through my scarf. I know it’s gross. But it got a laugh! |
| I love the absurdity of Kids in the Hall and I love Catherine O’Hara and John Candy. So the answer is Red Green Show in a landslide. | SCTV or Kids in the Hall? |
I grew up on Kids in the Hall. Chicken Lady was a household favourite of me and my siblings. But I also saw reruns of SCTV and fell in love with it. So I’ll say both? |
| I improvised once with Dave Foley of the Kids In the Hall. I then told him to go sit in the audience in case I needed a good answer to an interview question years later. | Have you spotted any of your heroes in your audience? | When I worked at Second City Mainstage Toronto, we had Andrea Martin, Shania Twain, Laverne Cox, Sir Ian McKellen, Jack McBrayer and more. |
| I wrote this one the other day: I like my Uber drivers like I like my accidental farts in public: Silent but not deadly. |
Favourite clean joke? |
This one I heard on Lamb Chop’s Play-Along: Where do generals keep their armies? UP THEIR SLEEVIES (dies of cuteness). |
| SNL and SCTV alumni and first-year improvisers compete for audience votes. Each duo gets seven minutes. Even if you hate them, crush their dreams, vote against them. | Why should people go to your festival? | The TOsketchfest is a delicious comedy buffet! There’s something for everyone, including Kirsten, Get Some Friends, a solo character sketch show by me, and more! |
| Mondays through May 7, www.socap.ca |
March 1–11, www.torontosketchfest.com |
