Just For Laughs: In conversation with Dom Irrera and Sean Cullen

Dom Irrera

Comedian Dom Irrera has been an ongoing festival favorite since he made his debut at Just For Laughs in 1988. This helped to make Irrera the obvious choice to host the All Star Show, which is playing at Club Soda from July 16-19, and at Metropolis on July 24.

“I have been popular here in Montreal for years. I have been popular here even before there was a Montreal,” boasted the Philadelphia native during a recent phone interview from his home in Los Angeles.

A new addition to the National Bank Club Series, the All Star Show will have Irrera helm a line-up of comics who have performed at Just For Laughs multiple times and have quickly become fan favorites, like Irrera, such as Alonzo Bodden, Ryan Hamilton, Judy Gold, Robert Kelly and Adam Hills.

“This is a very strong line-up, and this show will have something for everyone,” said Irrera. “And I know the audience will get a good show. In fact, I guarantee that people will love the All Star Show, to the point that if they don’t, you, Stuart Nulman, will refund all of their money back.”

While the pressure to deliver a good show has now been lifted off the shoulders of Irrera and his all star co-stars, he has maintained throughout his career that he likes being a comedian because it gave him leeway to be more honest and say things that are on his mind without having to worry about the repercussions. “The world is more politically correct these days, in which someone can get fired for saying anything at work,” he said. “Comedy is the last vestige of freedom around now, and comics have that license to freely say what they want.”

And it was his upbringing in a large family in Philadelphia, in which everyone spoke their mind with a humourous edge to it, that gave Irrera the impetus to become a stand-up comic more than 30 years ago. “In my family, everyone was a clown, but they never wrote down anything that they said, but I did it, and f--- them for being so lazy,” he said. “If they did write down their material, my family could have been massive in Quebec. They could have been hosting festivals around the province like the Verdun Local Comedy Festival.”

A rabid sports fan, Irrera loves Montreal for many reasons, and one of them is for its sports tradition. “Montreal is one of the most peaceful loving cities around, but those Stanley Cup riots they had, that was so f------ crazy. What happened there? It’s like a guy who wins the lottery and celebrates the win by beating up his wife,” he said.

And he’s not shy to be in the minority position about the global mania that is surrounding the World Cup this summer. “Because I live in L.A., I rooted for the home team during the World Cup, which is Mexico,” he said. “But a soccer game runs too long. If I can’t get to sleep, I turn on to a soccer match on TV and I fall asleep right away. As far as I’m concerned, let the rest of the world have this sport.”

With a career that has seen him perform at comedy festivals in Australia, Ireland, France and Denmark, and has compiled an impressive resume of movie and TV appearances (many remember him as prop comic Ronny Kaye in an episode of “Seinfeld” 20 years ago), Irrera admits that he is always making stand-up comedy a constant work in progress.

“I’m always honing my act, and I keep on working towards making myself a better stand-up comedian,” he said. “I enjoy this career of mine where I am always making people laugh. If I get laughs, and people recognize me as ‘he’s the guy’, that’s fine with me.”

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to make my way to the bank to get that All Star Show “refund” money.

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Sean Cullen, like Dom Irrera, made his Just For Laughs debut back in 1988.

Sean Cullen

However, while Irrera made his debut at a gala in the St. Denis Theatre, Cullen, as one-third of the manic musical comedy trio Corky and the Juice Pigs, made his debut outside the theatre. Actually, it was right across the street from the theatre, in which he, Greg Neal and Phil Nicol opened up a guitar case with a hand drawn sign in the middle of St. Denis Street, and began to entertain the spectators waiting outside the theatre before that night’s Louie Anderson gala (myself included) with their attention-getting repertoire of offbeat comedy, songs and jumping around.

“Me, Greg and Phil actually crashed the festival that year, but in retrospect, it was pretty nice,” admitted Cullen in a recent phone interview from his Toronto home.

From there, Corky and the Juice Pigs began to establish themselves as Just For Laughs regulars, which was capped off with their gala debut in 1992. When Cullen went solo in 1998, he debuted his first one-man show  “Wood, Cheese and Children” at Just For Laughs, and from there became a festival regular himself, appearing in numerous club shows and galas as recently as last year. This year, Cullen continues his association with Just For Laughs performing a solo show on July 23 as part of the Off-JFL Series, he will be part of the Talk of the Fest lineup with host Nick Offerman on July 25, and he will be doing a live taping of his podcast “The Seanpod: With Sean Cullen” on July 24.

“The Seanpod will be me and my co-pilot Mark Edwards. There will be talk, we will make up sketches between the talk, we will play extemporaneous songs and even be opening up to the audience for suggestions to make up some of those songs and sketches. It will be a multi-weird show,” said Cullen.

The thing with Sean Cullen, is that he is so multi-talented, it’s difficult to place him into one category of comedian. He can sing, perform on the stage (he played the role of Max Bialystock in the Toronto production of “The Producers”), host his own TV show, do a variety if voice overs, write a series of children’s and young adult novels (including a series featuring the character Hamish X), do improv comedy, and be a game show panelist (which he does with great comic effect on the updated version of “Match Game” that’s seen on Comedy Network).

“The idea of being so multi-talented is a throwback to some of the greats during the golden age of comedy like Jackie Gleason, and the team of Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, who had to have a variety of talents in order to survive,” he said. “Also, in order to survive in the Canadian entertainment industry, you have to be able to do 10 different jobs, which is not like in the States, where if you do one thing very well, you become famous.”

“And I love the broadness of it all, because it elevates any show that I do. On Match Game, I enjoy being spontaneous and having to think on my feet when I preface every response that I reveal to the contestants. I also have to remember that I want them to win some money on the show, too,” he added.

Cullen admits he enjoys working on "Match Game"and says that the spirit and camaraderie he has with the other panelists (which includes fellow regular Debra Di Giovani) equals that of the panelists that were part of the "Match Game" crew of the 1970s, which made stars out of host Gene Rayburn and regulars Bret Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly and Richard Dawson.

"We taped five shows a day, and there are five other talents who were always trying to be just as funny, so there was always tons of pressure to come up with something funny when you gave your response," he said. "Backstage, we always had a little something to drink between tapings, so by the time we got to the third taping, we became quite juiced, which raised the element of weirdness on the show, which translated pretty well on TV."

And while he awaits word regarding a third season of “Match Game”, Cullen has several projects in development or about to be released in the near future, including a science fiction novel, more touring, developing a new hour-long TV detective series (“which will be like Monk meets Columbo”), and a new comedy CD that’s schedule to be released next month called “Live from Planet Serpo”.

For Sean Cullen, being multi-talented certainly has its benefits.

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For more information about The All Star Show, The Seanpod taping or any other Just For Laughs show, check out the festival's website at www.hahaha.com.

Diana Krall enthralls 100,000 at Jazz Festival

Since she made her debut at the Montreal International Jazz Festival back in 1995, B.C.-born Diana Krall effectively skyrocketed her career to become one of the best-known jazz pianists in the world. And her smoky, sensual voice added to her piano playing talents helped Krall to sell millions of albums as well.

And nearly 20 years since that career-making debut, Krall has returned to the jazz festival to thank her Montreal fans in a large-scale manner.

Last Sunday night (June 29), more than 100,000 people – including Mayor Denis Coderre, provincial Minister Responsible for the Montreal Region Robert Poeti and federal minister Maxime Bernier -- crammed into the Place des Festivals in the Quartier des Spectacles in downtown Montreal to be treated to a free concert by Krall, as part of her Glad Rag Doll tour, which was part of the festival’s annual Grand Evenement TD.

Krall, along with her quintet of fellow musicians, delivered a memorable 90 minute show with a repertoire that represented 90 years of music, from Tin Pan Alley, to Neil Young, to Bob Dylan, to her own catalogue of jazz tunes. The stage was made to resemble a 1920s Prohibition era saloon (complete with an antique upright piano), and through most of the numbers, a selection of film clips from the silent and early sound eras were played on a giant screen behind Krall that lent itself to the ambience of each song (my personal favorite was when she played “Everything’s Made For Love”, which was accompanied by a scene from the Marx Brothers’ 1930 comedy “Animal Crackers”, which featured Groucho Marx and leading lady Margaret Dumont). And it was an excellent showcase for her extraordinary talents behind the keyboard, as she can adapt to any style of piano playing, which certainly had the massive crowd cheering loudly (especially how she echoed the piano patter of the late Fats Waller when she played one of his standards from the late 1920s).

 

And as an extra bonus to the crowd, for the encore, she was joined by her just as famous husband Elvis Costello, as they performed three numbers together to bring the concert to its satisfying conclusion.

And speaking of Elvis Costello, he entertained a full house at the Maison Symphonique two hours earlier with his solo show. Surrounded by seven acoustic and electric guitars, which he alternated every second or third number, Costello – decked out in a black suit and white Stetson hat – amazed the audience with his flawless guitar playing, as he performed 35 years worth of songs from his catalogue (such as “Watching the Detectives”, “Alison” and “Everyday I Write the Book”, in which for the latter song, he said that it took him only 10 minutes to write), as well as ballads and cover tunes (including his rendition of the Beatles’ “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away”).

Also, Costello proved that he is quite the entertaining storyteller, as he regaled the crowd with anecdotes from his more than 40 years in the music business, including one of his first live gigs, in which he performed with his father (who was a well-known dance band vocalist) in the English seaside resort town of Blackpool (“it’s like Vegas without the sin,” quipped Costello).

Halfway through the show, Costello was presented with this year’s Montreal Jazz Festival Spirit Award by jazz festival co-founder and artistic director Andre Menard, who recognized Costello for being “one of the most diversified talents in music today.”

All in all, it was a night to remember at the jazz festival.

A Talk with Angelo Tsarouchas and Derek Seguin

Comedian Angelo Tsarouchas is returning to his native Montreal next month for two reasons. First of all, he is yearning to return to his hometown because he can’t get his favorite Greek baked goods in L.A., where he currently lives.

“I wish there was a good Greek bakery in L.A.; those knock-off Greek bakeries run by Mexicans just doesn’t do it for me,” he said in a recent phone interview. “I guess you could say I’m coming soon to a depanneur near you.”

The other reason heralding Tsarouchas’ prodigal return to Montreal is that he will be performing for the second time at Just For Laughs’ Ethnic Show: Ethnical Difficulties, which will play at the Metropolis from July 17-23. Joining Tsarouchas in this United Nations of comedy will be host Maz Jobrani, Elon Gold, Mike Marino, Paul Varghese and Erik Griffin.

“I’m very excited to be working the Ethnic Show once again, because it’s a great line-up. I’ve worked with many of these comics before, and I am glad to be together with them next month in Montreal. It’s one of the best shows at the fest hands down,” he said.

Angelo Tsarouchas

Tsarouchas, who made his festival debut 10 years ago and is currently married with a two-year-old daughter, admits that growing up Greek in Montreal meant growing up in a tight knit community where the people grew with you, and was a place where you can maintain your Greek language and heritage, which is similar with the Greek communities in Melbourne, Australia and Johannesburg, South Africa.

“Montreal is the only place in Canada where members of the Greek community speak three languages. I also miss celebrating Easter in Montreal, especially in Laval, where you could always see a lamb roasting on a spit at practically every house in the neighborhood around Easter time,” said Tsarouchas. “I can always go back to Park Avenue, visit friends and pick up where I left off; it’s like I never left the neighborhood.”

“It doesn’t matter if you’re Greek, Jewish, Italian or Portuguese; we’re all Montrealers and we always have a sense of pride in our respective communities. And if you leave Montreal, you always miss Montreal, because they always complain about the same things, such as they can’t get a good pizza, souvlaki or bagel where they live now,” he added.

And Tsarouchas never minded being known as a Greek comedian, and admitted that he never originally placed the Greek label upon himself, but everyone else did. “I never called myself a Greek comedian; I was more worried about being labeled as unemployed,” he said. “At one point, I was even told to change my name. But after ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ became a hit, I was told not to change my name, and I’m glad I didn’t, because it would have meant changing who I was and dishonouring my Greek heritage. It’s not a bad thing being known as the Greek guy.”

When he’s not touring around the world with his Greek tinged stand-up act, Tsarouchas has been doing his shared of movie and TV appearances, including “Mad Men” (during its Golden Globe Award-winning season, in which he was seen as a nightclub bouncer), “Sullivan and Son”, “Cinderella Man” and “Fred and Vinnie”, in which his performance earned him many critical accolades and awards. Right now, Tsarouchas is in development with actor Vince Vaughn’s company and the CTV network for a new sitcom that’s tentatively called “The Angelo Show”.

And top of all those accomplishments, Tsarouchas steadfastly maintains his Greek ties these days, as he cheers on the Greece soccer team at this year’s World Cup (in fact, he was in the middle of watching the Ivory Coast-Japan match throughout our interview). “I’m a big soccer fan, and I am looking forward to watching the Greece-Japan match in a few days; however, if Greece loses, I am going to commit hari-kari and never eat sushi again,” he admitted.

By the way, Angelo, the way the Greek team has been progressing in the World Cup so far, you won’t have to hang up your chopsticks, soya sauce and wasabi so quickly … and please put away that hari-kari knife!

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Derek Seguin

After impressing the audience at last year’s “dirty gala” with Whitney Cummings, Montreal comic Derek Seguin was selected to perform for the first time at Just For Laugh’s mega successful “The Nasty Show”, which plays at Club Soda from July 9-13 and at Metropolis from July 24-26. He will be part of the line-up that will include Ari Shaffir, Kurt Metzger, Hailey Boyle and host Bobby Slayton, the “Pit Bull of Comedy” himself.

“I am honoured, flattered and super excited to perform at the Nasty Show for the first time, and joining such a great line-up including Ari Shaffir, who I find more nastier than me,” said Seguin in a recent phone interview.

Seguin admitted that the overwhelming popularity of the Nasty Show year after year is due to the fact that it’s a show where anything goes, and that everyone has a little pervert inside of them. “People are always curious about how far the moral compass will allow them to take,” he added.

“I am not a shock comic. I just tell my stories earnestly and hope everyone likes it,” admits Seguin.

Seguin, who prefers the traditional American stand-up comedy style and is a big fan of Louis C.K., Bill Burr, Jim Jeffries, Derek Edwards, Mike Wilmot and the late Richard Pryor (“he is a God-like creature”), got his start in comedy while he was working as an advertising executive, when he was introduced to Montreal comic Kevin Gasior during a Christmas party. Shortly afterwards, at the age of 31, Seguin did his first open mic night. What originally was supposed to be a hobby became a career by 2008, and Seguin began appearing regularly as a headliner at many of the Yuk Yuk’s clubs, and performed across the country alongside some of the top comics in Canada, such as Russell Peters, Sugar Sammy, Mike Macdonald and Jeremy Hotz.

“I am very lucky to be put into a position where my dreams are coming true,” said Seguin. “Imagine that … I can make money and support my wife, three kids, an ex-wife and pay for a house by just talking about my dick!”

For more information about the Ethnic Show, the Nasty Show, or any other Just For Laughs show – or to purchase tickets – check out their website at www.hahaha.com.

A sampling of Fringe Festival must-sees for the final weekend of the fest

It has been a great couple of weeks as the 24^th edition of the St. Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival has been making waves across the 19 venues around the St. Laurent Boulevard area (downtown and the Plateau), as well as Mile End. With more and more shows creating more and more buzz that’s leading to more and more sold out performances, the focus of festival goers as the Fringe Fest wraps up this weekend, is to catch the shows that has been getting all that buzz through an endless stream of positive word-of-mouth. Here are some recommendations of select Fringe shows that I have seen that must not be missed.

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“James Mullinger is Living the Dream” at the offset sounds like a rather corny motivational/self-improvement speech. But the moment this veteran British comic bounds onto the stage, you’re in for an amazing hour of solo comedy. He shares with the audience the tattered pages of his life (from his tattered volumes of personal diaries), and how his steady rise into the world of comedy was for him, “living the dream”.

And before he got to the comedy stage, he endured a difficult upbringing that saw him live in a boarding school, where his teachers and classmates regarded him as a “double bill of failure”, to how he managed to rise above and live his dream on two fronts: becoming a movie critic for a British TV show (like his idol Barry Norman, the UK equivalent of Roger Ebert) that was called “Movie Kingdom”, and meeting his idol Paul McCartney. Mullinger’s boundless energy and way out storytelling really carries this show, and in a way, can be seen as a motivational speech (but much more entertaining). Don’t miss his Trip Advisor reviews of Montreal attractions and his herky-jerky, worst ever karaoke Elvis performance (you’ll never hear “All Shook Up” in the same light ever again).

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“Shakespeare Crackpot” is the follow-up to Montrealer Keir Cutler’s hit play “Teaching Shakespeare”, which has been making the rounds of Fringe Festivals across North America. This time, Cutler – whose mother May Cutler founded Tundra Books and served as the mayor of Westmount – delves into the controversy of the “Shakespeare Authorship Question”, and why his questioning of the fact that the Bard really wrote all of his classic plays and sonnets has labeled him as a “Shakespeare Crackpot”, and why there is not a shred of documentary proof of the Bard’s existence. Cutler delivers an eye-opening, passionate performance in this self-confessional, documentary-style show. Literary conspiracy has never been so entertaining as what’s offered in “Shakespeare Crackpot”.

 * * *

“High Tea” is a delightful throwback to the absurdist brand of British comedy that dominated the stage and airwaves during the 60s and 70s like Monty Python and The Goodies. It centres on two best buddies: Jamesy (he of the exaggerated movements and excitable nature) and James (he of the derby hat and somewhat logical outlook). Every week, James goes to Jamesy’s place for afternoon high tea. What he doesn’t expect is the way out comic adventures that happen in which tea plays a major role (this time, they end up on a deserted island surrounded by tea, amongst other comic situations). And there is plenty of audience participation and improv (if you’re not too careful, you may end up playing a shrieking man eating shark, or even the Queen of England). A fun show that will make you want to raise your cup in praise (and by the way, tea is actually served to every audience member … and in authentic china teacups).

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What happens when an actress performs 12 different monologues written by 12 different authors about 12 different subjects? Award-winning Fringe Fest actress Yana Kesala pulls it off quite remarkably in “12 Tongues”. She seamlessly performs the dozen monologues – with situations ranging from jumping into a large pile of leaves, to working in a theme camp, to moving into her 14^th apartment in 25 years – and somehow never breaks her acting rhythm. This is quite the live performance accomplishment that should be seen.

* * *

Former Fringe Fest general manager Al Lafrance hits the stage with his autobiographical solo show “The Quitter”, and proves that the act of quitting is not the worst thing in the world. He admits that his quitting ways evolved in high school, where he was an A student, and suffered the stigma of perceived smartness. In fact, it takes a big leap while he attended Heritage College in Gatineau, where he managed to start a donut club that attracted a large following, but quit running the club when it became too successful. Lafrance gives an honest serio-comic performance, and shows that quitting is not always what it’s cut out to be (and if you’re one of the first few audience members to arrive early at the venue, you might even get a free donut).

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And don't forget, it's not too late to create more Fringe Fest buzz via social media. Just add the hashtag #fringebuzz with every related FB post or tweet.

Lyric Theatre Singers revue proves that Broadway is forever

If there was one thing that the Lyric Theatre Singers wanted to prove with their musical revue show "Forever Broadway", is that songs that were first introduced in musical productions on the Great White Way decades ago have the power to be endurable, easily recognizable and continually entertaining.

And in that respect, they have succeeded in a big way.

The show, which plays for a limited run at the D.B. Clarke Theatre, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. in downtown Montreal, until June 14, pays tribute to 90 years of selected Broadway musical tunes that have become song standards. From "No, No Nanette" to "Fiddler on the Roof" to "Ain't Misbehavin'" to "Avenue Q", the Lyric Theatre Singers delivered a highly entertaining repertoire -- through ensemble chorale performances and energetic medleys from such shows as "Mary Poppins", "Little Shop of Horrors" (and even the short-lived, much-lamented NBC series "Smash") -- that made for a enjoyable showcase of Broadway's greatest tunes. A couple of personal favorites include the group's performance of "Till There Was You" from "The Music Man" (I am more familiar with the 1963 cover version that was done by the Beatles) and the delightfully amusing "Stepsisters' Lament" from Rodgers and Hammerstein's 1957 production of "Cinderella".

Through the masterful direction of Bob Bachelor and Chris Barillaro, as well as the choreography of Mary Sarli, the Lyric Theatre Singers, many of whom are amateur performers, show that they have the talent and passion to both sing and dance. In fact, if there is such a thing as perfect thing, this ensemble showed it in spades; in fact, there was never a note or chord that was out of place.

"Forever Broadway" is a show that proves tunes that were originally composed and performed for the Broadway stage as early as the 1920s have a lasting legacy to North American popular music to this day.

For more information, or to get your tickets, go to www.lyrictheatrecompany.com.

The Grapevine goes to a Grand Prix Party

Ever since I started covering the Canadian F1 Grand Prix in my Grapevine column seven years ago, I usually narrowed my focus to the street festivities that took place in the downtown core, usually on St. Laurent Boulevard and on Peel and Crescent streets (and all the excitement along St. Catherine Street in between).


I never had a ticket to catch the time trials or the actual race at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, nor received any invitations to attend some of the parties that were taking place in many of Montreal's ritziest clubs and hotels. Basically, I was on the outside looking in.

However, that all changed this year.

Last week, I received an invitation to attend an exclusive Grand Prix party at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in downtown Montreal, which took place on June 6 and was hosted by the hotel, along with Infiniti Canada and the Red Bull racing team, which won last year's F1 Championship Trophy, which was basically as a way of saying thank you for the advance item I did about the party a few weeks earlier in my Montreal Times column.

So armed with my pen, notebook and camera, and smartly dressed for the occasion, I arrived at the Ritz just after 7 p.m. with revolving spotlights shining, a coterie of valet parkers waiting to take your car, and an army of paparazzi waiting to snap away with their cameras. And let me tell you, those eager camera people were not disappointed, as a variety of Montreal celebrities graced the party with their presence. There was Mayor Denis Coderre, Just For Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon, Just For Laughs COO Bruce Hills, Quebec singer and broadcaster Mitsou, Olympic figure skating medalist Joannie Rochette, 925 The Beat morning show co-hosts Cat Spencer and Sarah Bartok, CJAD afternoon drive host Aaron Rand, Gazette social columnist Jennifer Campbell and broadcaster Chantal Desjardins.

However, there were three Montreal celebrities who took the longest time to make their way from the hotel lobby to its Oval Room, where the party's nerve center was situated. Montreal Canadiens superstar defenceman P.K. Subban,  comedian Sugar Sammy and UFC champion Georges St. Pierre. From the moment they stepped out of their cars in front of the Ritz, the three graciously signed autographs, posed for pictures with fans, did impromptu on camera media interviews, and chatted with many of the guests before they got the chance to experience what the party was all about (Sammy, whom I met for the first time 10 years ago and is now one of the hottest comics to come from Montreal, took a couple of minutes to chat with me, and remarked on how good I looked as a result of my weight loss from four years ago).

And Formula 1 fans were pleased to see in person former F1 champion and Red Bull racing ambassador David Coulthard, who was there to promote the first Canadian appearance of Infiniti's Q50 Eau Rouge concept car. He also told the audience his take on this year's Canadian Grand Prix, as well as offering praise for the city of Montreal and its citizens for making the city such a highlight on the F1 circuit. Also, spotted in the Ritz lobby around 11 p.m., was 1970s F1 champion Niki Lauda of Austria (who was one of the subjects of Ron Howard's terrific movie "Rush", which focussed on the intense F1 rivalry between him and James Hunt during the early and mid-70s).

The exclusive Grand Prix party at the Ritz Carlton Hotel attracted a sold out crowd, who paid $295 each to enjoy one of the hottest parties during Grand Prix weekend (and a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales benefitted the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation, a Montreal children's charity that the Ritz has partnered itself with). The guests quickly filled the three rooms where the party took place: The Oval Room, the Oval Terrace and the Palm Court. There was a whiskey station, a champagne bar, an oyster bar, a Nesspresso coffee counter, dessert table and a nut station with an assortment of savoury flavoured nuts courtesy of Nicolina Servello Food, a Montreal caterer and food stylist. Each corner of the Oval Room offered four different food stations that were a hit with everyone in attendance: a salumi bar, a pasta bar, a prime rib bar courtesy of Le Biftheque steakhouse (which served delicious prime rib sandwiches complete with the fixings, including mashed potatoes and dill pickles), and a meat counter serving delicious sliced pork and broiled lamb chops.

As the contented guests left the Ritz into the Grand Prix night toting gift bags courtesy of Dior, Sharp (a style magazine for men) and Infiniti, I came away feeling satisfied why Montreal and Montrealers like to throw a good party during Grand Prix weekend, although a good deal of them may not even see the actual race. As well, I am also satisfied getting the chance to experience another aspect of the Grand Prix festivities, which kicks off the festival season that defines Montreal in summer year after year.

...Now if I can only score a ticket for the race at the circuit! That's a goal that I will definitely have to set for next year's Grand Prix.

Finally, a big thank you to publicists Leisa Lee and Katia Piccolino, and Timothee Auguet and Thaddee Biegala from the Ritz Cartlon for giving me the chance to experience another aspect of Montreal's Grand Prix festivities. Let's do it again in 2015!

Cote St. Luc Dramatic Society reaches new heights with "Catch Me If You Can"

Although in existence for three years -- and personally catching many of their productions since 2012 -- the Cote St. Luc Dramatic Society has raised the bar to new heights with their latest production "Catch Me If You Can: The Musical".

Based on the hit movie directed by Steven Spielberg that starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, and originally staged at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on Broadway, the show tells the true story of Frank Abagnale, Jr., a Rochelle, New York teenager who during the mid 1960s became a master of deception and quite a master forger, too, in which he managed to steal nearly $2 million by the time he was 20.

The story starts during Christmas of 1964, when young Frank is given a gift of a chequing account by his dad, which included a book of 50 blank cheques. When Frank finds out that his father is undergoing an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service and is close to losing his business, he decides to strike out on his own to help his father financially. That's when his blank chequebook comes in handy, which leads to a trail of deception, forgery and fraud that sees Frank become an airline pilot, doctor and lawyer, although he had no education nor experience that would warrant such career moves.

And on top of that, his multi-million dollar trail launches a nationwide manhunt by the FBI, which is led by a rather overzealous special agent named Carl Hanratty, who makes it his doggedly determined mission to stop Abagnale before he deceives again for profit.

This is by far the Cote St. Luc Dramatic Society's most ambitious, polished production in its very young history. Under the helm of its highly capable director Anisa Cameron, the show is briskly paced with an energetic cast and every aspect of it warrants it having qualities that are on the same level as a professional Broadway stage production. The costumes, music and cultural references accurately reflect the spirit of the Kennedy-Johnson era in America, and the narrative form and musical numbers, which never slows down throughout the show's two-hour running time, is reminiscent of those variety shows that dominated the TV airwaves throughout the 60s.

And of course, it is strongly anchored by the mesmerizing performances by its two lead actors. Brandon Schwartz exudes a lot of charisma and confidence in the role of Frank Abagnale, Jr., and his broad talents will certainly take him places if he decides to pursue an acting career in the future (and we get the privilege to say when saw him way back then); and veteran actor Mike Melino is terrific as FBI agent Carl Hanratty, who injects plenty of hilarious frustration, uptightness and bellicose nature into the role, as he leads a bumbling posse of agents in pursuit of Abagnale throughout the U.S.A. And special kudos go to Megan Magisano as Frank's fiancee Brenda, whose solo performance of the song "Fly, Fly Away" will quickly become a bona fide showstopper.

Based on the enthusiastic response from the opening night audience, "Catch Me If You Can" has the makings of a sold out run. As well, it boldly proves that English theatre is alive and well in Montreal, and that from here on in, the Cote St. Luc Dramatic Society is more than just an amateur theatre troupe ... they are quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the Montreal theatre scene.

“Catch Me If You Can: The Musical” will play at the Harold Greenspon Auditorium in Cote St. Luc City Hall, located at 5801 Cavendish Boulevard, until June 22. Tickets for evening performances are $27 for adults, $24 for seniors and students, and $18 for matinees and preview shows. They can be purchased by going to www.csldramaticsociety.com, calling 514-485-6800, ext. 2024, or in person at the Cote St. Luc Public Library (5851 Cavendish Boulevard) or the Cote St. Luc Aquatic and Community Centre (5794 Parkhaven Avenue).