Toronto Review: TOSketchfest at The Theatre Centre
Louis Train, Associate Toronto Critic
It’s opening night at TOSketchfest. I take my seat, set down my eight-dollar Steamwhistle. I am ready to laugh.
The emcee bounds onto the stage. He asks how everyone is doing. I am doing okay. He tells us that Sketchfest lost provincial funding last year. He implies that they’re barely hanging on. Weird way to open the festival, but okay. We’re going to watch four troupes tonight, he tells us. Awesome.
The first troupe is Jon Blair. What is the difference, you ask, between a one-person sketch show and an over-scripted stand-up routine? You and I kindred philosophers, for I too am puzzled. Jon has a good bit about scat singing through Ouija, but the rest of his set goes on.
Next up is The Diddlin’ Bibbles. They’re a musical duo who dress like kindergarten teachers but sing about killing dogs. Their voices get very high and friendly and then they say something dark. They have a fun bit about musical theatre therapy.
It’s intermission, so I grab another eight-dollar Steamwhistle. Lord knows, they need the sponsorship. I ask one of the volunteers how much longer is intermission, and she says, I don’t know? Five or ten minutes?
Next up is diane. I like diane, even though she is a one-person sketch troupe and therefore a bit of a paradox. Her physical comedy is great. She mimes trying on a shirt, choosing an outfit. She’s good. But the technician’s made a mistake, she’s queued up the wrong music. So diane goes back offstage to start her routine again. It is less charming the second time.
Last up are Hackett & Langdon, and they’re good. I can see why they’re last. They play a range of characters in a range of short situations; I guess you could call them sketches. They have a great bit about renting in Toronto, and a totally absurd and hilarious behind the music-type thing. They finally answer the question, What’s the furthest you can get from funk?
The show is over so it’s time to vote for the best troupe. I’m going to vote for Hackett & Langdon. I ask my plus one who she’s going to vote for. She glares at me and crumples up her ballot.
I like sketch comedy, and I love the idea of a sketch comedy festival. I am gutted that the decision-makers in our province don’t see the value in TOsketchfest, and that their lack of funding has hurt the festival so badly. But at a certain point, the folks behind TOsketchfest have to think about whether or not it’s worth trying to realise their vision on a shoestring. Looking through the festival lineup, I see a lot of solid acts that I’ve enjoyed before, like Uber & Klonk and Dead Parents Society. I’m sure they’ll put on great shows and sell a lot of eight-dollar Steamwhistles. But every night like last night only does the sketch scene harm.
The TOSketchfest Comedy Festival runs to to March 15 at The Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen Street West. For tickets, call 647-505-1050 or visit theatrecentre.org