Anti-smoking comedians at Bull & Quench tonight
It’s Canada’s Time to Quit comedy tour will hit the audience with a one-two punch.
Ontario-based comedians Rick Currie and Denis Grignon will perform at the Bull & Quench in North Bay tonight at 8:30 p. m.
It’s pretty rare you’ll see a show with two legitimate headliners,” Grignon said. I say this with great humility. This show has two headliners.”
The idea behind the tour is to help build awareness about the challenges and benefits of quitting smoking–while providing laughs.
The show’s admission is pay-what- you-can and all funds raised will support the Ontario Lung Association. The comedians are glad to be on board.
This is a cause that I have great empathy with,” Grignon said. I have never smoked. Not even marijuana because I hear it makes you paranoid and I’m already paranoid enough.
My disdain for smoking has grown stronger, especially since I’ve got kids. Smokers have a piece of garbage in their hand every 15 seconds and the world is their ashtray.
Anything I can do to help people quit smoking, all the better.”
Currie is an ex-smoker, but agrees with the message.
I have talked about smoking in my act,” he said. Maybe that’s why they wanted me.”
There will likely be a few smoking jokes during his performance, but Currie said it won’t be the majority. The audience can expect a Canadian sense of humour from Currie.
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I tell stories, all kind of jokes about Canadiana stuff,” he said.
The audience can expect a little musical comedy from the comedian. Currie will bring his guitar to the show.
Grignon plans to tell jokes about family and politics.
Both comedians expect it to be a clean show devoid of any offensive stereotypes. The comedians are out to make people laugh, not to offend.
Grignon said he doesn’t offend easy, but he finds offensive humour is often boring.
I’m not easily offended, just easily bored,” he said. The show will be pretty clean, so if you want to bring your mom and dad, it’s safe.”
While less offensive than the average show, Currie said the show will have an edge to it.
It will be cleaner than most comedy shows, but not a pansy show,” he said.
Grignon hopes the lack of offensive stereotypes will attract people who have never been to a comedy show. Currie and Grignon are familiar with each other. The comedy duo met 20 years ago at Algonquin College. Both were in the advertising program.
We keep running into each other in all parts of our lives,” Currie said.
Grignon, who is selective about who he works with, has turned down work with many other comedians. Currie isn’t one of those blacklisted comedians.
It is a total coincidence, it’s total serendipity that we’re doing this show together,” Grignon said.
It won’t be the first trip north for either comedian and both are looking forward to it.
I’ve enjoyed playing up in the north,” Currie said. I always have a good time. I was conceived in the north so maybe I have a little bit of it in my blood”
The tour moves to Sudbury Friday, then heads to Thunder Bay for a show July 23, before concluding July 25 in Timmins.
