Theatre and live music have been returning and so is stand up comedy with a very unique show coming to Kamloops on Wednesday.
The Rank and Vile show, named because of it’s adult content, comprises of two of Canada’s top touring comedians, Kenny Robinson and Darren Frost.
The pair have six decades of experience having performed everywhere from comedy clubs and TV to Montreal’s prestigious Just for Laughs festival.
Both comedians have reputations for being controversial with no topic taboo. “I always say, bring your grandmother if she likes Black Sabbath and gin.” Joked Frost.
Kidding aside, after having their livelihoods put on hold because of the pandemic, the 25 year veteran, was asked on the NL Morning News, how the two year forced hiatus changed both himself and his act.
He said that for him, like many others, coming back has been almost like starting over from scratch. “Even before COVID, as you know, any comic gets a little bit nervous before going on but when you have a two year break, it’s almost like am I restarting again? Am I going to have to go and have this kind of energy that I’m going to have to try to control before I go on stage? So, your act does change.”
He says while he’s changed, so have the crowds, saying they’re more appreciative than ever. “First of all, the crowds are so receptive, you think you’re Robin Williams every single night now because it’s like some of the easiest material that wouldn’t have flown before COVID is killing because people are just happy, so it’s great to have a happy audience.” Although he jokes, “Come back to me in three years, when people are bitter again and maybe I won’t be able to perform.”
“People are ready to laugh. We just got back from the East Coast where we had sold out shows, we just had a sold out show last night on Vancouver Island and people are so excited to have entertainment back and especially this kind of entertainment where they can just have a release and laugh again and that’s one of the benefits.”
As for his touring partner, Frost couldn’t sing his praises loud enough. “Kenny Robinson, this is the reason why he’s a legend. He’s been doing comedy for 40 years and he’s one of the few comics that every single year, has 30-40 minutes just based on what’s happened in the past 12 months. On this tour he’s got 20-30 minutes, not just about COVID but about Trudeau, the trucker convoy all theses world issues, even the Russia – Ukraine conflict, he’s got material on all these topics that are newsworthy right now.”
Rank and Vile is at the Effie Arts Collective on Tranquille road Wednesday door are at 7:30, the show at 8:00. Tickets are online or at the door.
