A Funny Thing Happened in Membertou – review of January 23rd Yuk Yuks performance

This past Saturday night on January 23rd, I had the pleasure of attending The Membertou Trade and Convention Centre for the sold out, Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Show. I was more then happy for a few laughs after a long week and I definitely got it!

We arrived at 7:30 which is apparently not early at all for this show. The comedians go on at 9pm and it was already half full when we got there. If you want a seat up front, you have to get there right at 7pm sharp when the doors open. The early opening for a show that starts much later is perfect for people to relax and enjoy some food and drinks beforehand.

When you walk in you can smell the popcorn in the air. It gives you that feeling of a night out. They also offer “Buckets of Beer” so one doesn’t have to make frequent trips to the bar. It is a great space for stand-up comedy. When someone is on tour with Yuk Yuk’s they can sometimes end up in some fairly small clubs along the way. This venue must be a real treat for these performers. It’s a large, upscale room that can hold several hundred people. I can imagine it has to be one of their favourite stops on the tour.

After an hour and a half of drinking and socializing with the new friends we made at our table, it was time for the show to start. Up first was Andrew Albert. Albert is a headliner’s dream. He opens a show perfectly. He was funny right from his first words and really brought a fresh energy into the room. Being younger, he really appealed to the twenty something’s in the audience. Although, I did catch some of the older faces at our table enjoying many of his jokes as well. Albert used the stage like a pro. He commanded the crowd and kept the show very spontaneous. He did a lot of back and forths with people down in front and handled it with hilarious class. He was right on top of anything anyone threw at him. The only downfall that I could really think of from his set was that a few of his jokes went a little too far. There were a few moments in his set where you could hear the crickets and the groans from people who thought, “Did he just say that?” But he would always bounce right back with something that would be so funny, you forgot about whatever it was that offended you. Over all, Andrew Albert was a great way to kick this show off!

With no break at all, Marcus Beaubier was up next. He came right onto the stage with all the energy in the world, and the crowd was ready for him. Being from Newfoundland, he had a good act that would really appeal to this crowd. His performance really reminded me of comedian Ron James. The high energy pacing back and forth, and the slight accent in every punch line. He was very polished and you could tell that he had been perfecting his act for years. Even though Beaubier was very funny, it did feel scripted at times. His delivery lacked the feeling of being “on the spot” like Albert’s did. I think what makes a comedian even funnier is when they tell a joke as if it is for the first time, even though they have been repeating it for years. A lot of Beaubier’s material seemed very dated, especially when he did a routine about Pamela Anderson that felt as if it were written in the late 1990’s. Aside from that, Marcus Beaubier had the crowd in stitches from start to finish. Great job!

Hats off to the MTCC for putting on a great evening of drinks, food and comedy! I will definitely be going back next time Yuk Yuk’s rolls into town and I recommend you do as well. But remember, if you decide to make this show a night out, call in advance and show up early!