101917 Scott Thompson, Ottawa, ON

On October 19th, 2017 I was happy to stroll down the street to see one of The Kids In The Hall, Scott Thompson.  

Ottawa’s installation of the Yuk-Yuks comedy club franchise has long been on Elgin Street, just a short walk from my home.  Years ago they took over the basement room that formerly housed the Bytowne Tavern (I believe it was called), a free-peanuts tavern located underneath what used to be The Penguin.  

All things considered, it’s funny that I rarely go; I love comedy.  Who doesn’t?

Anyways, I was thrilled and amazed that a comedian with the talent and the notoriety of Scott Thompson was coming to my little local club and I was extra-impressed to discover the tickets were so cheap; I think it cost around $20 to get in.  

Of course there was an emcee and a short parade of local comedians sent forth to open the show (for less pay for their efforts than the free peanuts that used to be the signature of the room, no doubt) but soon enough Mr. In The Hall himself took the stage, and not long after that I found out why he was playing such a small room, and why the tickets had been so reasonably priced.

To his credit, Thompson tipped us off early in the show that he was trying out new material in preparation for recording a new comedy album.  And so he did, reading from a list of jokes written in a notepad that he held in his left hand.  He literally mades notes as he went along, saying things like “well, that one didn’t work, and “…maybe I’ll rework that one a little,” out loud as scribbled on the pad.

Don’t get me wrong, he was funny and fun to watch, but his set was very, very unslick, and much less professional than I expected from a performer of his calibre.  

That said, I guess it was a little insight into the inner workings of working up a comedy act.  Kinda like being a fly on the wall watching the comedic process at work.  And heck, it was just five minutes to walk home.  So no complaints here, overall.

(He released the album.  I still haven’t heard it.  Do people still even listen to comedy records anymore?)