Everything is stand-up
Okay, so I’m officially losing my mind. Andrea said this would happen. Once you start thinking in terms of “What’s funny about this? Is this a good seed for a routine?” everything becomes a potential stand-up gag. The cat’s antics, my sweaty chest, Facebook, the dishwasher, knitting, laundry – it’s driving me nuts. And that bloody notebook follows me everywhere – I’m walking down the street and I have to pull it out and write something down....
Read MoreDawn was right about the notebook…
Last night I was so jazzed after Dawn Whitwell‘s stand-up class that I couldn’t sleep. That was after telling my husband that I had no energy for smooching because I’d been running around like a blue-arsed fly all day (cartoon voice-over, audition for an HBC Rewards commercial, stand-up class). So I lay there having all kinds of wonderful ideas for routines. All kinds of wonderful ideas that I can’t remember now, dammit. I’ve heard many people explain how they...
Read MoreMy first stand-up lesson
A couple of hours ago I had my first stand-up lesson with Dawn Whitwell. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect since I had only seen the results of a previous class at their graduation show. There were eleven of us in all, I think. A few performers, some people who worked in the business but not performing (a copy writer, an ex-props mistress, a producer) and some people not connected with the entertainment industry at all. After the introductions we all had to tell a story – it...
Read MoreI voiced a cartoon Japanese pop star
Today I did my cartoon gig – it was amazing! What a hoot – my main character, as I discussed yesterday, is the British manager of a Jamaican band who may or may not be some kind of secret agent. I also played a German tourist having sex with a Jamaican guy, and a Japanese pop singer who’s most definitely also a secret agent and is trying to kill the main character. This was perhaps the most fun part since it involved me having to record a bunch of fighting noises that I...
Read MoreMy first cartoon voice over
Tomorrow I’m voicing my first cartoon. I’m preposterously excited. This is a field I’ve been wanting to get into for a long time and since my unique selling proposition in Canada is that I’m British (and am able to do the accent without sounding like Dick van Dyke) I’ve been hoping that Toronto would be good to me. It’s taken a couple of years, but finally I was able to audition for a pilot for an adult (yes – it’s aimed at 18 to 34s) cartoon for...
Read MoreI’m doing a stand-up course!
Having seen my gorgeous pal Daniela Saioni in her stand-up graduation show at Second City on Sunday I am about to sign up for the course! Run by Dawn Whitwell, this seven-week class is running care of Bad Dog Theatre. After six months of not doing anything in front of a live audience, my inner performing monkey is starting to act up. I’ve been writing a lot of what I think will eventually be a novel over the last few weeks, but I’m hoping some of it could be turned into stand-up. I...
Read MoreMarilla 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.