From the bottom line to the punch line. “Humor Me,” a yearly charity event in support of Sick Kids Hospital youth at risk has raised more than $1 million to date. The idea is simple three CEOs selected form some of Canada’s biggest companies do strand up comedy and are judged by a panel that includes Richard, Yuk Yuk’s founder Mark Breslin and writer Jim Slotek. Think “American Idol” with jokes and where all the money goes to a great cause. This year the show will be hosted by comedian Dave Foley of “Kids in the Hall” and headlined by comedy legend Bill Cosby. This year the show is on Tuesday, October 14, 2014, 7:30pm at the Elgin Theatre, Toronto. More info HERE!
Check out Richard’s cineplex.com article on Monty Python as the Beatles of Comedy.
“’I’ve got two legs from my hips to the ground, and when I move them, they walk around,’ isn’t a line with the elegance of, ‘Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away,’ but it is a lot funnier.
“Comparing the work of Monty Python and The Beatles might seem like equating apples to oranges, or guitars to crunchy frogs, but it really isn’t that much of a stretch. Eric (Idle), Graham (Chapman), Michael (Palin), John (Cleese) and a couple of Terrys (Gilliam and Jones) have a lot in common with John, Paul, George and Ringo.
“Monty Python has been called the most influential comedy troupe of all time. Their absurdist brand…” Read the whole thing HERE!
“The mishmash of Kafka’s bureaucratic frustration, Beckett’s oddness, and Del Rio’s sense of humour puts an entertaining spin on the Canadian theatre controversy.” -Mooney on Theatre
“Del Rio’s dialogue is lively, and Salgueiro has fun being the aggressor, twisting Gass’s statements into politically correct pretzels of incoherence.” -NOW Magazine
Monday February 24, 2014 (Toronto): By popular demand, HLIBKA ENTERTAINMENT INC. in association with BIG PICTURE CINEMA are bringing back the critically acclaimed comedy THE TRIAL OF KEN GASS from Friday March 21st to Thursday April 3rd.
The remount has a STAR-STUDDED cast including: Stratford veteran David Fox, actor/playwright Matthew Edison, Canadian comedy legend Kenny Robinson, movie reviewer Richard Crouse, Second City mainstage alum Anand Rajaram, Kids in the Hall alum Paul Bellini, performer and personality Ryan G. Hinds, Caitlin Driscoll, indie film darling Robert Nolan, Just for Laughs comedian Sandra Battaglini, and many more.
The Trial of Ken Gass is a play based on the famous dismissal of Canadian theatre legend Ken Gass. In a Kafkaesque series of interrogations, Ken Gass is continually put on trial for crimes he is not aware of. The absurdist comedy is a metaphor for the power institutions wield over artists and individuals.
The play is being put up by producer / conceptual artist Jonathan Hlibka and will again be directed by acclaimed playwright Bobby Del Rio. Every show, the spectacular Jess Salgueiro returns to play SARAH BRIGHT opposite DIFFERENT ACTORS PLAYING KEN GASS!! It is highly encouraged to see multiple performances as each performer will bring their own unique interpretation to the role of Ken Gass. Lighting and set design will be a collision of minimalistic expressionism and pop art design styled by Jonathan Hlibka.
Opening March 21st: Matthew Edison – 8:00pm
March 22: David Fox – 8:00pm
March 23: Amish Patel 2:30pm matinee, Kenny Robinson – 8:00pm
March 24: Richard Crouse – 8:00pm
March 25: Caitlin Driscoll – 8:00pm
March 26: Anand Rajaram – 8:00pm
March 27: Ryan G. Hinds – 8:00pm
March 29: Paul Bellini – 8:00pm
March 30: 2:30pm matinee TBA, Robert Nolan – 8:00pm
March 31: Sandra Battaglini – 8:00pm
April 1: Derrick Chua – 8:00pm
April 2: TBA
April 3: TBA
In 2013, at the Sterling Studio Theatre’s first one-act playwriting competition, The Trial of Ken Gass ended up as a top-3 finalist. The original production was at Sterling Studio Theatre in July 2013. Highlight performances from the first run include: Peter Keleghan (The Newsroom), Diane Flacks, Huse Madhavji (Saving Hope), Pat Thornton and Julian DeZotti.
The play will open Friday, March 21st @ 8pm. It will close on Thursday, April 3rd @ 8pm. All shows will be @ 8pm. The show will run every night from March 21 – April 3 (except Friday March 28th). On Sundays, there will also be matinees @ 2:30pm. All tix are $15, with PWYC Sundays for both shows. Passes for all performances for the run of the show are available for $35. Big Picture Cinema is located at 1035 Gerrard St East. Tickets can be purchased at the door, or online at www.bigpicturecinema.com
From the bottom line to the punch line. “Humor Me,” a yearly charity event in support of Sick Kids Hospital youth at risk has raised more than $1 million to date. The idea is simple three CEOs selected form some of Canada’s biggest companies do strand up comedy and are judged by a panel that includes Richard, Yuk Yuk’s founder Mark Breslin and writer Jim Slotek. Think “American Idol” with jokes and where all the money goes to a great cause. This year the show will be hosted by comedian Dave Foley of “Kids in the Hall” and headlined by comedy legend Bill Cosby. This year the show is on Tuesday, October 14, 2014, 7:30pm at the Elgin Theatre, Toronto. More info HERE!
