Montreal Sketch Comedy Festival 2008 Preview

The 2008 edition of the Montreal Sketch Comedy Festival starts tomorrow, Tuesday. I saw and blogged the entire festival last year so I thought I’d give you a little preview of what to expect this year. There aren’t that many returning troupes, but if nothing else, this can serve as a clearinghouse for troupe links. Annette heads indicate my recommendations.

• BOOYA PICTURES (MONTREAL): Never heard of them, but I watched a few of their videos online.
• ADAM SUSSER (MONTREAL): Ditto for Adam Susser.
• JON LAJOIE (MONTREAL): Jon Lajoie became a minor internet celebrity with his funny song Everyday Normal Guy. According to Eric Amber, quoted in this Gazette article, this will be Jon’s first live performance.
• DDP (TORONTO): DDP killed last year. This could easily be a highlight of the festival.

• SOFT AND MANLY (CALGARY): Couldn’t locate them on the web.
• BIG PANTEEZ (VANCOUVER). I found a few videos online, but the quality was unwatchable. He is billed as a feminist rapper. From his videos, he swears a lot.
• TERENCE BOWMAN (MONTREAL). I Reviewed Terence last year.
• VANGUARD PRODUCTIONS (MONTREAL): Are these the same people who brought us Under Milkwood at the 2007 Fringe? It was a nice drama, so this could be good.

• UNCALLED FOR (MONTREAL): They won the Annie for Best Sketch Show at the 2007 Montreal Fringe festival.
• BAD PUBLICITY (MONTREAL): Features local standup Rodney Ramsey and others.
• BEST FRIENDS CLUB (MONTREAL): Most of the creative team behind the wonderful Legend of the Barbarian, including our very own Marc, will re-unite for this sketch show.

• ACCIDENTAL COMPANY (TORONTO): Check out their website. They have some audio on a myspace page.
• PRESS, RELEASE, REPEAT. (TORONTO): They have videos up.
• 7 MINUTES IN HEAVEN (TORONTO): No videos found, but good troupe name.

• MORBIO (TORONTO): I reviewed their show at last year’s Fest: “I mean this in a good way: they didn’t always make me laugh, but there was always something interesting going on up on stage.”
• FRENZY (TORONTO): I also reviewed their show at last year’s Fest.

• THE BOOM (TORONTO): Couldn’t find a website.
• CHEAP SMOKES (TORONTO): Couldn’t find a website.
• SOFT AND MANLY (CALGARY): Couldn’t find a website. Are they really on twice?

• BLEAK (NEW YORK): Lots of videos on their YouTube channel for you to peruse.
• LAUGHBAG (MONTREAL): I reviewed their 2007 show here. To sum it up, the banter was squirm-inducingly bad, but the sketches were good.