Montreal's Just For Laughs festival is back onstage -- and online
For the first time in 39 years, the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival is hosting shows onstage and online.
Due to public health restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many shows at this year's festival will be exclusively online.
In addition, the live performances will also be available for people to stream.
This week, Just For Laughs is hosting its first in-person comedy event in two years at Club Soda.
“These are shows where the audiences are minimal because they are taking extra precautions, like to the point where it doesn't make sense," jokes comedian Jon Dore. "So, now we've got like, 12 people in a club that holds 500.”
It feels like they didn’t sell enough tickets, he quips.
“It's way worse than before, comedians have never had it harder,” he laughs.
PANDEMIC PUNCHLINES
On the street in front of the venue, fans were stopping Marito Lopez because they couldn't believe he was here in person.
“I have that Latino spice, I get it from my mom and dad who are ex-revolutionaries from El Salvador,” Marito said. “I like to show that off. I like to wear leopard print, I like to wear blouses and -- if you have any blouses, let me know.”
Rodney Ramsey says he made the best out of doing Zoom comedy during the pandemic via his animated web series, "The Unknown Comedy Club," but admits he's happy to be back in front of real humans.
“That year-and-a-half was actually nice, I got to hang with the family, but I'm tired of them now, so let's get some jokes,” he said. “I just want to be out talking to people who aren't my family. Haha, I love you, family. I'll be back later -- promise.”
The experience of doing comedy online was a weird one, adds comedian Jen Grant.
“When we started doing Zoom comedy in place of in-person comedy, I just had to assume my jokes were funny," she said. "I just had to pause during that time as I was imagining them all losing it in their living rooms. It was a crazy time and if we can't laugh about it, what are we going to do?”
OUTDOOR ATTRACTION
The intersection of Sainte-Catherine Street and Saint-Laurent Boulevard is usually bustling -- overflowing -- with people when Just For Laughs rolls around. It's something organizers hope to get back to one day.
“We are definitely waiting to go back to the festival with 20-30 venues, 500 artists, thousands of industry and all the fans and tourists that come," said Robyn Kazsor, Just for Laughs' vice-president of festivals. "We want to get back there and then we're going to figure out what is that secret sauce of how to add in that online element so we can expose Montreal to the world and show them, how special our festival really is.”
Until then, this hybrid festival seems to satisfy folks, no matter how they're experiencing the show.
“Now that live comedy is back, I'm very happy,” Dore beams.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.