IF YOU DON’T CARE WHY I CONSIDER MYSELF SOMEWHAT OF A COMEDY SAVANT IN THIS CITY, SKIP THE ITALICS BELOW….
Four years ago I relocated to Saint John. From the outside looking in I fell in love with the idea of living near an ocean, the gorgeous architecture, the idea of ferries, fisherman and a slower pace. The lakes and rolling hills seemed romantic and adventurous to me. Coming from a city in Ontario that has something for both children and adults to do 24 hours a day, I sadly, however, quickly grew bored of Saint John and failed to remember what the ‘draw’ to this city ever was. I love the markets, the local commitment, the food, the views, and the people … but those things can’t sustain a multitude of Friday and Saturday nights!
No amusement for the kids (Hail to Vegas on the West Side, and to the Arcade Box for recent awesome city improvements!) and nothing but pubs, bowling and movies for the adults, I was absolutely starved for entertainment. There are only so many times you can walk Rockwood Park on a freezing cold day, and as a working mom, my schedule didn’t quite fit the Aquatic Centre Ultimate Swim times. I went to the theatre a few times, but found it pricey for what I was getting. I was in a entertainment funk after mere months of living in Rothesay, and my fam jam and I took to driving around the city as a source of amusement.
It was on one these drives that I discovered a wooden hand painted sign that simply said ‘COMEDY TICKETS’ and displayed a phone number. Immediately I dialed and hooked my husband and I both up with a set of tickets. Something to do? Something to do that promises to be funny? How exciting! Who knew that those few moments and a wooden sign would see me grow as a person, fall back in love with a city, and meet some of the greatest human beings on the planet.
Shane Ogden was the owner of the aforementioned wooden sign, and at the time was hosting his comedy shows at the 3 Mile. I followed his shows from there to Vegas, and now Chuckles in the Parkway Mall, becoming a huge fan of his productions. (If you haven’t seen Mike Dambra at one of his shows, you are truly missing something magical.) A delightfully funny mix of local and renowned Comics, Shane Ogden’s comedy shows rarely disappoint. Shane, being a comic himself, always makes me laugh, and I feel that he is bigger than the stage he humbly stands on, so if you can, catch a show with him on it. Delightfully, my husband was awarded many opportunities to throw down on that stage, and it forever holds some of my favourite giggly memories …. and I am sure will create many more. Hosted once a month, always near the end, his prices are fair, affordable, and usually well worth it. (They all can’t be barn burners, but Shane gives it his all!) Shane knows comedy and has breathed it for 20 years - it certainly shows in his productions. [And he friggin delivers tickets!]
James Mullinger moved to Rothesay soon after I experienced my first Shane Ogden promotion, and this whole city fell in love with him. It was a year before I would see him perform, and James proved himself to be a great entertainer. So positive is Saint John’s adopted son, (and my neighbour!) that he infects you with his almost obnoxious glass is half full attitude towards the Port City. He sees a side of Saint John that I find difficult to see. He has convinced an entire city to jump on his bandwagon of Saint Awesome, including documentaries, radio shows, and has created this idiosyncratic cult following. He’s even taken his friends with him to the top of Saint John’s entertainment ladder - you can often catch James’s comic besties opening for him at his venues!
Now, I, personally, look at Saint John and see a city starving for attractions and amusements, and being an hour away from everything ‘big’. We’ve got beautiful green space, the ocean, and a few nice beaches, and really, every other major city in the country mimics everything else we have with their own versions of it. This leaves me unsure if what we offer is enough to qualify for documentaries and monikers, but it’s super cool that somehow, it has. And you know what? As a blank slate - anything IS possible here. Heck, a british guy moved here and insisted on becoming well known to all who reside here, and with a shit ton of hard work - he has. So, if you do get a chance to see James perform - take it. He’ll leave your funny bone satisfied, he’s an award winner for a reason, and give you some pep in your step about where we live. I find James’ prices to be on the higher end of the scale, to be honest, but he’s always performing at the more expensive, more professional venues, so it makes sense. He has kids to feed and bills to pay like the rest of us, but I take in my Mullinger time at local, more inexpensive shows that he is on because I’m a bit of a penny pincher.
Jon Forward started No Jokes Barred Comedy, getting a jump start on a scene that would soon explode, although I am not sure exactly when he began. Hosted twice monthly - once at the R Bar, and once at O’Leary’s, Jon’s comedy shows are a practice run for local comics to test out new material, for new comics to brave their way on the stage, for seasoned comics to catch some stage time, and the best part is, he has a ‘pay what you want’ cover charge, collected half way during the show. Jon’s shows are non-judgemental, and give a community vibe, like we are all in this together, and hopefully you’ll still be laughing long after you’ve been. Attending Jon’s shows is kinda cool - when you laugh, you are often hearing a joke the very first time it has ever been told. It’s like witnessing history. Like you know that joke is great, and is going to one day make a stadium laugh, but you had the gift of hearing it first, in a cramped little bar with great people. The R Bar is quite divey inside, but at the No Jokes Barred shows you barely notice. In fact, Jon often ‘scares off’ the regulars by singing some unintelligible song (quite horribly) on the Karaoke mic prior to the show’s start. Even THAT gets you giggling. You get caught up in seeing sometimes 9 comics per night work out their material, and you see a piece of their work, their maybe someday comedy special and it’s honestly exhilarating. Of course, on the flipside, you sometimes see them fall, and that community vibe comes in to play, where you find yourself urging this struggling stranger on stage to keep going, to keep trying, as if you’re part of the team. And then sometimes you hear the funniest joke you’ve ever heard, one you commit to memory to share with those who couldn’t attend. Maybe you keep it as an ice breaker, or a water cooler story, but most importantly, you’ve discovered a comic or two that you can see full length at Shane Ogden Presents (amongst other venues in the city). BEST PART? It’s all local. Every last dime, and every last comedian - and THAT I can get behind. The No Jokes Barred have become my favourite - the price is right, the comedians are many, and you still have your night (usually ending around 11). I will caution you though, dear reader, by No Jokes Barred, Jon means just that. The weak and easily offended should stay at home. Jon lets each comic create, and hands them the reigns to test the waters with their funny. I, personally, am not easily taken aback, and from time to time I find even myself thinking ‘holy shit - did he just say that?’ I believe these shows are O’Leary’s the first Friday of the month, and R Bar the third Saturday of the same.
Comedy with Balls (I believe now, retitled Something Funny?) cropped up in the valley last year at KV Billiards. My hubby has done everything at these shows from carry, set up, and deliver chairs, to headlining this venue - and it’s always a well put together production. Worth the drive, and well worth the money - the prices are fair, and the promoters of Comedy with Balls also dip quite often into the local talent pool, which is just aces with me. I also believe that they have taken their promotions on the road, so you may see a Something Funny production crop up throughout the Maritimes, and I usually recommend the comics they hire. (Although I find as of late they have the same comics locally re-appear too frequently) Didi Lombart Lloyd is one of the owners of this promotion, and is, potentially, the sweetest human being you will ever meet, and has a very good eye for funny, which bleeds through into her no-detail-is-missed well done productions. I believe February 4th is their next show here in town, and they are hosting the mid-life crisis tour, and for the 30 - 40 something folk - you are guaranteed to giggle.
Grand Bay and Sussex have and are also hosting shows as well!! On February 17th Grass Roots Grill at the Westfield Country Club is hosting a Comedy Night (take your honey out for Love Day!) and their food is magnificent. I believe Grand Bay is the only show with a fully functioning restaurant, so dinner and a show at the Golf Course is a magnificent evening out. In Sussex, although I am not sure if it’s still running, was/is at Uncle G’s, and if I am right, the very funny Darren Elmore hosts the evening. I can’t rave about the food and the ambience of Grass Roots enough, and, as they’ve chosen my husband to headline February 17th, you know they have great taste in comedy!
Before I forget, there is a bubbly lady named Mandy Lynn Donovan flittering about town and dabbling in charity and non charity comedy shows. I’ve caught her production at Taco Pica and other dotted places around town, and if you follow her on facebook, or listen to her radio show on local 107.3 FM, I’m sure you can keep up with her progress and local scheduled comedy nights. I was at a show that hosted musicians AND comics, and although I went there with the attitude that I wouldn’t like it, I actually really enjoyed it. Mandy’s shows are very creative and worth the check out for sure. Her prices vary from venue to venue, and as she hosts local (aces again!) comics, they are always fair and do-able.
And last but not least, Yuk Yuks. If you haven’t had this shoved down your throat in the past 6 months, you are living off the grid my friend, as it seems I can’t open a paper, turn on the radio, or even open up the internet without an advertisement for Yuk Yuks. From a marketing standpoint, making sure we all know they are in the house, Yuk Yuks gets five stars from me. The gentleman running it is a fisherman rather than a comedian, but that can be a good thing. Comedians are moody and emotional - which somehow makes them hilarious, but very difficult to do business with. Currently they are open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, and other than Mike McDonald (I caught him in Fredericton at a Troy Haines Comedy production at the Delta - the hubster opened for him - and he was incredibly entertaining!) I personally am really not that excited about the comics on the scheduled shows so far, other than James, and am honestly finding the forthcoming roster of openers and middles (not the headliners - most are great!) quite lackluster, but that’s ok - they are just getting started I’m sure. I am also a little shocked at the lack of local comics on the schedule this far, (which I believe is out of the owner’s hands?) and I sincerely hope that we see guys like Shane Ogden and other seasoned veterans hop up there to show off their hilarity in the future. [side note: I’m completely ignorant to the way Yuk Yuks works, and I’m sure there is a process for local comics that I am unaware of]. My husband was given his start at Yuk Yuk’s - so you never know who may pop up on that stage! At $19.99 ($17.39 + tax) per ticket, Scrooge McDuck over here finds that a little steep, but on the flipside of this, it is a seasoned promotion, I’m sure a very well put together show, and the local owner, Steve, is working hard to build something great with a well known brand name behind him. Yuk Yuks being an infamous brand will also ensure that our tourists take away giggles from our city, and hopefully it will spread to return visits! Although I have yet to witness for myself, I hear the ambience is fabulous and the venue is gorgeous - sounds like Steve has his i’s dotted and t’s crossed!
And that, I hope concludes the comedy round up. If I have left any shows out, PLEASE feel free to send me a message, and I will correct the error immediately. All schedules and promotions listed above can be found on various website, but facebook is your best bet, and I’ve listed their links below. The biggest mistake I find that people make when going to comedy show, is that they base their opinion of the promotion on one evening’s talent. If you go, and a comic has an off night - remember that there will be different comics next time, and if you enjoyed the ambience, didn’t mind the price, and the promotion itself was great - go the next time! It may be the best one!
Sidenote: if you REALLY catch the comedy bug - find Ken Bolton on Facebook. He teaches stand up comedy at the University in a leisure course setting, and some of his students have been on almost every stage in the city! Travis Boyce and Kris Trotter are two names to watch for - both graduates of Ken’s course, and both very very funny up and comers!
Hopefully somewhere above you’ve found a venue or a promotion that sounds great to you, and you get out and enjoy the magnanimous amounts of comedy shows that have cropped up around the city! How do you choose? I recommend you try them all! Didi, James, Shane, Jon, and Steve all work equally as hard to tickle your funnybone!
Have a beautiful, positivity filled day!
-J-
Shane Ogden Shows: https://www.facebook.com/chucklescomedyclub/?fref=ts
James Mullinger: https://www.facebook.com/james.mullinger?fref=ts
No Jokes Barred: https://www.facebook.com/groups/631670633618210/
Comedy With Balls/Something Funny: https://www.facebook.com/somethinglaughs/?fref=ts
Grass Roots Grill: https://www.facebook.com/grassrootsgrill/?hc_ref=SEARCH
Yuk Yuks Saint John: https://www.facebook.com/yukyukssaintjohn/
