Comedy Review Jan.27,2011: Yuk-Yuk's.

Comedy Review Jan.27,2011:

Mike Wilmot, Mike Beatty, Dave McConnell, and Terry Clement

As usual, it was student pricing night at Yuk Yuk’s Elgin location, and it was a full house.  Headliner Mike Wilmont is a big draw, so it was a sold out show. (I saw a few people turned away at the door...MAKE RESERVATIONS PEOPLE). The club was more packed than I have ever seen it. There was a good mix of ages, and the crowd had a good vibe to it, you could just tell everyone was there to laugh and have a good time.

Terry Clement

Dave McConnell

The show began promptly at 8:30. with MC Terry Clement (not Tony Clement, Federal Minister of Industry, that just wouldn't be funny). Clement did a great job of warming up the audience, he was very funny, personable and engaging. After the usual banter with people celebrating birthdays/anniversaries etc, Clement switched it up a bit and did what I can only describe as “performance art”. He recited some beat style poetry over pre-recorded music. I have to say it was strange and unexpected, but it was smart, innovative and made me laugh very hard.

Dave McConnell hit the stage next.  McConnell is a regular on the Ottawa comedy scene. McConnell’s dark style and shocking sense of humour is always good for a laugh/groan.  McConnell is unrelenting in his deadpan approach.  It as if he is saying “I don’t care if you like me, I know better than you”, and it works.  He had this audience laughing, groaning, and they will never look at their mothers the same again!

Mike Beatty

Next up after McConnell was funny man Mike Beatty. Beatty is an Ottawa comedy veteran who was surprisingly clean for “cold dark January”.  An example is his reference to his penis as his ding-dong.  Beatty spends most of his stage time humorously reminiscing about how things have changed since he was a youngster.  Beatty managed to really connect with this audience, and got a very positive response. 

 Mike Wilmot

Then came the man everybody was there to see, headliner Mike Wilmot.  Wilmot has traveled the world performing stand-up and acting. Wilmot’s casual presence and fast paced style of comedy makes one feel like they are catching up over drinks with an old (foul mouthed) friend filled with stories about his globetrotting adventures.  Much of Willmot’s act is based on his own observations on cultural differences between Canada and other countries.  His philosophy about how you can tell a lot about a people by their sandwiches reminds us that despite these cultural differences we are really all the same, we all just want to laugh.

This was an enjoyable show. These four comics bring the funny.  If your looking for an entertaining evening I  definitely  recommend you head down to Yuk-Yuk's on Elgin. And don't forget those reservations.

Cheers,

Joshua Hayward 

JH5