Review: Yuk Yuk's Comedy Club

On Wednesday, February 8th, 2012, two friends and I went to check out the local talent on amateur night at Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club. Unfortunately, we were unaware that Thursday night means half-price entry for students and that the next day was the first performance from the feature artist of the weekend, Jon Dore!

There was even an act from an Algonquin College student, Kyle Mesdag, who gave an incredible performance that was very well-received by the audience. It turned out that the majority of the comedians had travelled from Montreal to perform  and the label “amateur” was extremely underrated based on their stage presence and . There are a few topics I want to go over in some more detail: the overall atmosphere and décor, the food, and of course, the performances.

The building had a unique style and rustic decorations. It is painted black with bright letters that read “comedy” – these are bigger than the logo for Yuk Yuk’s itself. Paintings of stars cover the exterior and interior of the building, giving off an illusion of mystery and suspense. The upstairs is a cute pub- style restaurant, kept dimly lit with mostly wooden accessories. The downstairs continues more with the theme advertised outside: black walls and a large wooden bar with minimal furniture that was visibly worn-out and dingy.

The night started off slowly, (maybe the audience just needed to get their first beer down to let their sense of humor take over), but after the MC, Jess Soloman, introduced us to the performers and did an act of her own, the crowd was ready for more. I think she was intentionally trying to make people feel uncomfortable by calling out different audience members and asking personal (sometimes unflattering) questions. This was probably the most effective ice-breaker of all, by putting audience members in an uncomfortable position it was easier for us to laugh at ourselves and others when they are put in the same situation.

Another nine comedians, including Dan Ciggy and Trevor Thompson, were ready on the sidelines, with feature artist Nick Flores there to bring the evening to a close. In the middle of Nick’s performance, the waitress delivered a shot of whisky to him; he quickly drank it, and gave thanks to the generous stranger. Topics hovered around Canadian winters, issues with the opposite sex, the Super Bowl, and different consumer products. Comedian Brian Alkerton spoke about his Old Spice fragrance, comparing it to nutmeg, whisky, and shattered dreams.

Overall, the night was a huge success for both the performers and the audience. This was my first experience at a comedy club, and will definitely not be my last. My only critique would be on the food. I shared a few appetizers, and unfortunately (as there is a restaurant on the upper floor) it was very low quality, and quite expensive for the portions. Next Thursday, I would recommend going for dinner down the street, then heading to Yuk Yuk’s for a whole-hearted laugh.

Comments

[Moira Farr]

Sounds like a good way to spend a cold February night in Ottawa!