Here we go: It was an interesting and eye-opening
experience going to this sold out benefit, Humber College presents Evening
with Funny Canadians. There were a few no-shows. Eugene Levy
and Debra McGrath pulled out, but still Ralph Benmergui did a fine job
acting as moderator and host. While there was an audience member on the
front row dressed as Austin Powers (he did a very good job, I saw him in
the line outside and had to do a few doubletakes before realizing he wasn't
Mike Myers. And yes, when the show started, Mike Myers pulled him up on
stage and tried to swap places with him), Mike Myers was in a rather serious,
and thought provoking mode.
What surprise me most was just how seemingly hostile many in the audience and even a little on the panel Canadians were towards America. Kevin McDonald pointed out Canadians were taught to feel inferior to the U.S. in grade school. Mike Myers wanted to know what would it take to create the quintessential Canadian movie (my thought: Strange Brew doesn't fall under that category?)
Dave Foley was at his most charming and while Colin Mochrie essentially said little on the panel, whenever Ralph Benmergui would call on him, you were guaranteed to get a weird non-sequitar out of him that was just hilarious.
A few clips of early influences like Wayne & Shuster were played. A brief improv game with Colin, Dave and Kevin was engineered by Robin Duke. A Q&A session with the audience was the last part and quickly it was all over. Many of the panelists stayed on stage to sign autographs.
It was a very interesting two hours.
See, I told you this would be lame!
barb
Written: 5 April 2001
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