There are only three things that will make me consider leaving the house during Vancouver’s not-so-cold but extremely wet winter. Work, food, and the credible promise of fun. I attended the Snowed In Comedy Tour under that promise and, let me tell you something, it delivered.
As an immigrant living in Vancouver, I always struggle to convince myself of going to comedy shows. Sure, I like comedy. But it is hard to appreciate it when the jokes are hyperlocal. Not just the content of the jokes but the way in which they are told.
For me, that is what made the Snowed In Comedy Tour show one of the best shows I have seen in Vancouver so far. The humor was accessible and relatable to all audiences. Except children. Seriously, don’t bring children.
Vancouver’s show featured four out of the six comedians that are part of the tour. Dan Quinn, Debra DiGiovanni, Paul Myrehaug and Pete Zedlacher. To me, a combination that provided a great diversity of topics ranging from family and children, to sex and religion.
The show started with Dan Quinn, not only winner of the Canadian comedy competition at Just for Laughs but also a comedian who has opened for names such as Russel Peters and Bob Saget. His set was a mixture of embarrassing stories and hypothetical cases that any person in a committed relationship has either been through or thought of. Hopefully, thought of rather than been through.
Quinn’s set was a much needed warm up for what was to come, Debra DiGiovanni. DiGiovanni, named three times Canada’s favorite female comedian, took over the stage in no time thanks to her powerful raspy voice, quick wit and, let’s be honest, her inappropriate humor. While her performance lacked a bit of movement, she compensated well with a great range of facial expressions and the ability to bombard the audience with words.
After DiGiovanni came the break. I was already feeling like the night had been worth it and, I am not going to lie, I thought I had seen the best of the night. I was wrong. Dan Quinn appeared on stage to welcome the third comedian of the night, Paul Myrehaug.
Known for his multiple appearances on CBC’s The Debaters, Myrehaug brought great contrast to the show. His jokes are well accompanied by a set of body movements that might not be made for acting but will certainly make you laugh. Moreover, he was able to share a couple of local stories without alienating international crowds. I mean, I can safely say I left that show knowing a thing or two about Prince George.
Myrehaug’s set went by fast and along came Canadian Comedy Award winner Pete Zedlacher. His comedy is a mixture of childhood experiences, a bit of politics and, oddly enough, household appliances. So, if there is one thing you can learn from him it’s that, with enough experience, you can make anything funny.
Even though the comedians were great individually, you could tell they were more than just good isolated acts. There was synergy between them, evidenced by all the references they made to each other’s jokes.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend such a cohesive and entertaining show to anyone looking for a good motivation to get out of the house despite the bad weather.
