I did it. I won the semi-final heat of the Toronto Comedy Brawl last night and now I’m a finalist.
Last night at the Comedy Hole I was a bit nervous. Not nervous of performing (I’d already done “Toronto Noir” in the afternoon), but nervous of my chances of getting through.
The line-up was strong: Graham Borgfjord, Marjorie Malpass, Joel Buxton, Chris Robinson, Andre Arruda, Arthur Simeon and Tim Gilbert. I didn’t really expect to go through. But when Chris Robinson and Arthur Simeon were no shows, suddenly the odds were a little higher.
I picked 5th spot (which ended up being 4th since the first and last spots weren’t filled) which was fine. Some good friends turned out (thanks Murray, Heather, Andrea, Alicia, Karen, Inge and fellow StandUp Sisters Heidi, Becky and Daniela) which helped with the voting. I was pleased with my set – I changed it slightly from the first round and it went well. But I still wasn’t that confident. I missed Marjorie‘s set because she was after me (I went upstairs to buy my post-set beer) and I thought Tim Gilbert was really excellent. Everyone else seemed to get the same amount of laughs as I did. I thought it was too close to call.
After excellent sets from the guest performers Phil Hanley and Mark Little (who won the Great Canadian Laugh-Off), Ian Atlas announced that Joel came in second and I won! Huzzah! $50 richer and pretty gobsmacked, I texted my husband with the news and drank some more beer.
Today I took my daughter to Kensington Market and we nabbed some vintage swag and burritos with the winnings.
The final takes place next Tuesday 18th August at 8pm at the Crown and Tiger pub at College and Bathurst. I expect Dave Merheje will win, but you never know……….
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Marilla who?
I am a British-born actress and stand-up comic who does lots of voice work (for commercials, cartoons and corporate clients) and sometimes, when I'm very lucky, tv and film. When I was in England I did mostly theatre. Now I'm in Canada I spend the majority of the time writing and performing stand-up. When I'm not making episodes of Talking Bollocks, that is. And that's me for you.