Goofy gals: The Broad Squad

"As soon as I posted the website I started getting applications from completely random cities," says organizer Sandra MacMillan. "I started doing sketch comedy and became more aware of how much there was in Montreal that I wasn't aware of, and then when I went and did the festival in Toronto I started talking to the organizers over there and saying it was weird that there wasn't one in Montreal, and they encouraged me to copy their format and start it up here."

In fact, as soon as she got it off the ground the buzz spread like wildfire, and now, from May 18 to 21, Théâtre Ste-Catherine promises to be even more filled with life and craziness than usual. On the bill are lip-synchers extraordinaire Never Surrender, Terence Bowman, all-gal pals The Broad Squad, The Bionic Yahoos, my faves Uncalled For, Sketch Ya, Divorce Survival Strategy, The Distractions, Bob Wiseman and Morbio, among others. One thing is sure: Moulds will be broken.

"Some groups, like say The Bionic Yahoos, are really professional and slick," explains MacMillan, who also performs with Divorce Survival Strategy. "Then there's other groups that just formed for the Sketch Fest, and threw something together: Dan Beirne's Happy Times, for example, threw together nine friends and the skeleton of a story, and just said, 'We're going to rehearse once." I'm in that show as well. It's like, 'This is what I want to happen, but the way it happens is completely up to you at the time.' So it's a huge range."

"Sketch comedy is usually quite fast and furious; ours is like slow and furious," says Adam Kelly, when asked to describe the particular brand of performance he peddles along with his fabulously named Dancing Cock Brothers.

"We talk about the plunders and blunders of auditioning... what other things will we be talking about... oh, sodomy, for sure. A little bit of sodomy, a little bit of serenading in Greek - ladies in the front row will get flowers. We're going to sing a new song about living in Montreal and living in Toronto, and we'll have a fairly prop-heavy crazy sketch about a German named Hermit Octopon who does way too many things at the same time while he's driving."

"The acts I'm looking forward to personally are Knock Knock Who's There, from Toronto, and from what I've seen online I'm also pretty excited to see Zebro, from Boston," says MacMillan.

I don't know, I'm pretty sold on the Cocks.

Montreal Sketch Comedy Festival
At Théâtre Ste-Catherine (264 Ste-Catherine E.), May 18-21
www.montrealsketchfest.com
 
 

		Write your comment on this article!

Winging It!!!     Ok, I have to admit that this is one new fests that I'm totally stoked about. Improv is arguably one of the most gruelling forms of comedic expression going. It takes a tremendous amount of mental acuity to not only swiftly perceive the humor inherent in the most mundane or, by contrast, outrageous of things - that's only half the battle, you then have to possess the abilty to convey the absurdity of it all at a moment's notice with nothing short of deft comedic timing!!! Props to all those comics who have made improv sketch comedy their calling, and congrats to the organisers of this fest for recognising the appeal of a hilarious brand of comic expression!!!
Mark St Pierre	{7 votes}	May 28th, 2006
Question..     ya the fest was fanfreakintastic. one fast question..?? who was the first group to go on the night of the 17th?/ before the dancing cock brothers? does anyone know them? there 2 brothers and another red headed chick?.. thanks
Tara Pietroniro		June 1st, 2007
Laughter At It's Best     I am all for the creation of moe comedy sketch platforms and partake myself in occasional comedy sketch workshops in town. We don't have to think of Toronto as having a patent on English stand-up comedy. That we have the best of both English and French humour sources means that we can even have twice the impact that Toronto has. And I must say there is a variety of material among young comics who are savvy enough not to have to resort to shocking the public with well known four letter words that used to get attention way back when. A lot of comedy comes from untapping everyday living situations that not only involve the actor but the average bloke who deals with the public or his own idiosyncracies one way or another. Kudos to McMillan, Amber and Kelly as well as the regulars at Theater St Catherine.
Martin Dansky	{6 votes}	May 24th, 2006
Competitive Awesome     I think there is a rise in interest in this country for Sketch Comedy right now due to the fact that Improv has run its course. As far as I am concerned, Improv, standing alone is just the Reality T.V. of Comedy. We, the audience want to see Sketch ...good Sketch Comedy. We want to see that someone has taken the time to flush out some good ideas and write them down and rehearse using those good ideas. We want to see someone take the time to not just go for the easy "Dick" or "Fart" humor. I have found a group, just recently that does not go for the easy laughs, but writes more intelligently then any other Sketch Comedy Duo that I have ever seen to date. They are called, Competitive Awesome, and they were in Los Angeles last Monday for a HBO showcase. Without using race as other duos have or without using crass language, Competitive Awesome presented a show that was just.amazing! The ideas, the writing and most importantly the performances were all on...big time. It was so nice to see two boys who are real trained "Actors," not just lame "Improvisers", performing their own well crafted material perfectly. BRAVO, Competitive Awesome...BRAVO! I cannot wait to see what is next for this Comedy Duo. They will be the next big thing in this Nation...Move over Improv here comes Sketch Comedy, at last! Here is the official web site of the duo: www.competitiveawesome.com
Tim Jenkins	{9 votes}	May 23rd, 2006

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