Features

Let there be funny and there was funny. The 10th annual Winnipeg Comedy Festival, appropriately titled Thou Shalt Laugh!, wrapped up 10 days of hilarity on Sunday. Here are a few acts that made an impression (besides Sean Cullen, who does a spot-on Van Morrison).

The Best of the Fest: Maureen Langan
Not dark, but certainly stormy, the NYC-based stand-up won me over with her middle-aged anger. At The Dark and Stormy Show, Langan lambasted reality TV celebrities such as the Kardashians and old rich men and their much younger, much hotter girlfriends. Her past her prime pique was especially delightful when she treated the audience like little kids, bending down and explaining any slightly dated reference to the front row. 
 

The Surprise Hit: Darcy Michael
With his stoner attitude and attire, Michael threw the Hystereotypes gala audience for a loop when he proclaimed his homosexuality. "We’re everywhere!" said the Vancouver-based comic, prompting big laughs. Post-coming out, the undercover gay referred to his husband as his wife, explained why he doesn’t eat bananas in front of his mother and asked, "Why buy a sex swing when you can go to the playground?"

The Big Dirty: Darren Frost
Widely considered Canada’s most controversial comic, Frost lived up to his billing at The Dark and Stormy Show, so much so that I can’t repeat anything he said here. Take my word for it: he takes dark and dirty to a new dimension.
http://www.youtube.com/user/darrenfrost#p/u/4/MS19SyJZe_0

The WTF?: Jimmy Tingle
Don’t get me wrong, Jimmy Tingle’s a great comic. The Boston-bred stand-up has been at it since 1980, possesses a beautiful, natural rhythm and a great socially commentative style, but his old-school and rather clean approach sure didn’t fit in at The Dark and Stormy Show, especially when the previous comedian, Rob Pue, busted out a brain-burning bestiality bit.

The Local

Spotlight: Hot Thespian Action
While a number of Winnipeg comedians were featured in this year’s festival, including Aboriginal comedians Ryan McMahon and Paul Rabliauskas, veterans Bruce Clark and Dan Licoppe and up-and-comers Keener, Ryan Ash and Mike Green, Hot Thespian Action made the biggest Peg City impact. Not only did the sketch troupe host its very own show at the Gas Station Theatre, it featured prominently in On That Note, the festival’s musical comedy gala. Its song about what every girl needs (Hint: They dress well, they can’t get married in most U.S. states and your uncle might be one) had the audience in stitches.

The Free
The poor, the unprofessional and the penny-pinchers laughed it up at this year’s festival thanks to a number of complimentary events. Free shows included those at the Millennium Library, Kelly Hughes Live! at Aqua Books, Student Night at the Lo Pub and Kevin Fest, a matinee movie series with Kevin McDonald of The Kids in the Hall. Due to their price, the big gala shows tend to skew older, so it was nice the festival decided to share its wealth of comedy.