Just For Laughs comedy festival gets underway with two fan-favourite shows
Posted July 19, 2023 10:14 pm.
Last Updated July 19, 2023 11:55 pm.
Some of the world’s best comedians are beginning to descend on Montreal as the 41st edition of the Just For Laughs festival got underway.
The “Nasty Show,” known for its crude humour, kicked off Wednesday night at Club Soda.
Steph Tolev is among the comedians performing at the raunchy-themed comedy show hosted by Mike Ward.
“I’m dirty all the time,” said Tolev. “I do a lot of the crowd work when it’s just me. So if you come to a solo show, it’s probably a half-hour of crowd work. So if you don’t want me to talk to you, don’t sit in the front row.”
The other comics performing at the Nasty Show are Donnell Rawlings, Adrienne Iapalucci, Geoffrey Asmus and Dino Archie.
On Thursday the “Just for the Culture Show,” which showcases comedians from diverse cultural backgrounds, gets underway.
Indian-American stand-up comedian Zarna Garg will be bringing the laughs.
“No one in India knows that stand-up comedy is a job,” said Garg. “Hello, if any Indian is watching, you can get paid to do this. We didn’t know. My own kid said to me, ‘you should do stand-up comedy.’ I’m like, that’s not a job, you know? But now I know.”
Garg says her act includes some of the “worse family advice you can imagine.”
“How to get rid of your mother. Know how to set your kids straight like nothing. Like, please don’t come to me for how to be nice to your kids. That’s not my schtick.”
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It’s Garg’s first appearance at JFL, and her first time in Montreal.
“What a phenomenal thing they have created,” she said. “I can’t believe that this art form gets so much love, so much attention. I don’t agree with it personally. I don’t want any of my kids to become comedians, but I’m honoured to be here, and I just cannot believe how exquisite this whole event is and I get to be a part of it.”
The show is hosted by Alonzo Bodden and features Gianmarco Soresi, Joyelle Nicole Johnson, Judy Gold, Arthur Simeon and Malik Elassal.
The president of Just For Laughs says the “Just for the Culture Show” is a particularly fan favourite in Montreal.
“I think it’s a it’s a great show for JFL because it represents all the different communities of the city in one show,” said Bruce Hills. “And it’s been a highly popular show, formerly called the ethnic show. And it’s running tonight through Friday of next week.”
