Derek Edwards - Baloney and Wine tour, Centennial Theatre, Sunday, April 19, 7:30 p.m. Tickets $44. For more info visit centennialtheatre.com.
Derek Edwards still remembers the first time he tried his hand at comedy. It didn't go so hot.
Now one of Canada's best known comedians, Edwards, who rolls into North Vancouver's Centennial Theatre April 19, recalls his first time on stage. It was amateur night at a downtown Toronto comedy club, where those wanting to try their hand at being the funny guy were invited to give it a whirl before an audience. Edwards decided to do just that.
"I tried it and, it (was) like bungee jumping, I swear, it's so scary the first time on," Edwards' good humoured voice (no pun intended) says through the phone. "I had this question for the crowd, which is a stupid thing anyway when you're just starting out, it (was) like, 'who here is from Timmins' I said, knowing there'd be nobody."
Turns out there were fellow Timmins natives in the crowd, four guys, hammered drunk in the back of the room that screamed with rowdiness at the mention of their town, eight hours north of Toronto. With that unexpected reaction, Edwards says he was caught off guard and forgot everything he was going to say.
"I dropped the ball. I waited a whole year before I tried it again."Twenty-eight years have passed since that first night on stage, years that have allowed the Timmins, Ontario native to hone, tweak and perfect his style of comedy to become one of Canada's most laughed at and recognized comedians.
The hilarious twists he puts on everyday scenarios many experience but few really think of have had audiences in stitches for decades now. The man's voice alone is funny,
sounding as if he's waiting to spring a wisecrack at any given moment in his prototypical Canadian accent. Edwards has won awards in both the U.S. and Canada and has been featured extensively in Canada's Just For Laughs comedy specials. Of 36 contestants (and only Canadian) in the now obsolete Vail National Comedy Invitational in Colorado, Edwards was chosen as the winner in 1995.
His most recent tour, Baloney and Wine, comes to town next week and according to the Toronto-based comedian it's supposed to contain a good chunk of new content.
"I'm trying to refurbish and keep things smelling fresh," he explains. "Most of it's new, there's some of the old gems in there, if you'll be so kind."
When asked specifically what might be in this year's lineup, Edward's response is modestly vague. To him the whole thing is just about having a good time.
"I'm just going for the funny bone. .. it's all escapism and whimsy, just out for having fun. Bottom line: the more the merrier. It would be great to have some folks coming out there."
One of Edward's favourite things about standup is getting that perfect joke off at just the right timing, however he admits replicating the joke at future shows for the same reaction is certainly a challenge.
"You have to fine tune it, tweak it, put it in just the right spot for it to come close to the first time, because you gotta have an extra raw energy when you deliver something the first time, and that energy is terror. It's hard to, post-terror wise, to get the same feedback."
Despite nearly thirty years on stage and reviews ranging from "the king of Canadian comedy" to "still the funniest man on earth," Edwards says he still doesn't have a "real job" yet.
"I just wanted to put off getting a real job for as long as I could and really I don't have one yet. .. I swear."
Tickets to Edwards' show, which starts at 7:30 p.m., April 19, can be purchased for $44 on Centennial Theatre's website, over the phone or in person at the theatre's box office.
