I got this info from the orgranizers of the festival/Jarkko:
"ARTHUR SMITH DOES MONTREAL!
Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen and takes Just For Laughs on his Londoner’s Late Night Tour of Montreal
The British playwright and BBC on-air personality Arthur Smith is poised to take Montreal by storm this summer with two events at the 21st edition of Festival Loto-Quebec Just For Laughs presented in association with Labatt Bleue. With his own interpretations of the Montreal poet, Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen is part of the Just For Laughs On the Edge series at the Centaur. His spectacular comic masterpiece, Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen, was a huge hit at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and in London’s West End. The prince of ridiculous banter sings from the Montreal bard’s repertoire, venturing a few badly croaked renditions of the ballads, despite the fact that he is accompanied by guitarist Ronnie Golden, formerly of the UK hit group, The Fabulous Poodles.
Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen
The Centaur Theatre
453 St. Francois Xavier
July 16, 7:00 PM
July 17, 9:30 PM
Tickets are $17.50 (plus taxes and service charges)
For Tickets Call:
The Centaur Theatre Box Office (514) 288-3161
For all the information you need and more
visit http://www.hahaha.com
Arthur Smith Does Montreal
Arthur Smith's performance
Hey folks,
I'm here to report on "Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen," which took place last Wednesday and Thursday. Unfortunately, this review is somewhat irrelevant, as Mr. Smith says that the Thursday performance was the last time he would do this particular show.
It was fitting that someone with a rather poor singing voice should sing Cohen. Smith had the obligatory smoke-ravished bass, and personally, I think Leonard's voice is actually better. Mr. Smith played with a guitar/vocal backup who was quite talented, and this made the songs bearable. Basically, there was little to do with Leonard Cohen, except that his songs and poems served as a back-drop for Smith's stand-up comedy. He presented a very dry sense of humour, and the comedy was mostly dark, as he probed the humour of depression, and pondered questions of mortality. It was well done, however, and at times Smith was quite hilarious.
I enjoyed the show, though it was rather short, at about one hour. It was fitting subject matter for a Leonard Cohen soundtrack, and although I've definitely seen better acts, this was something very different, and Smith pulled it off.
I'm here to report on "Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen," which took place last Wednesday and Thursday. Unfortunately, this review is somewhat irrelevant, as Mr. Smith says that the Thursday performance was the last time he would do this particular show.
It was fitting that someone with a rather poor singing voice should sing Cohen. Smith had the obligatory smoke-ravished bass, and personally, I think Leonard's voice is actually better. Mr. Smith played with a guitar/vocal backup who was quite talented, and this made the songs bearable. Basically, there was little to do with Leonard Cohen, except that his songs and poems served as a back-drop for Smith's stand-up comedy. He presented a very dry sense of humour, and the comedy was mostly dark, as he probed the humour of depression, and pondered questions of mortality. It was well done, however, and at times Smith was quite hilarious.
I enjoyed the show, though it was rather short, at about one hour. It was fitting subject matter for a Leonard Cohen soundtrack, and although I've definitely seen better acts, this was something very different, and Smith pulled it off.
Hi Mark J ~
We still appreciate your bringing your impressions and perspectives of it here, since we couldn't be there to get our own. Did anyone ask why it would be the last, or could you get any sense of why? It sounds like his was, intentionally, thematically-correct, humour "to slit your wrists by,"
and I can imagine its being a good show. I'd also have been concerned had his voice been better than Leonard's. I'm also glad to hear that he's already been captured on tape.
Thanks for your review.
~ Elizabeth
We still appreciate your bringing your impressions and perspectives of it here, since we couldn't be there to get our own. Did anyone ask why it would be the last, or could you get any sense of why? It sounds like his was, intentionally, thematically-correct, humour "to slit your wrists by,"
and I can imagine its being a good show. I'd also have been concerned had his voice been better than Leonard's. I'm also glad to hear that he's already been captured on tape.Thanks for your review.
~ Elizabeth
-
John the Shorts
- Posts: 491
- Joined: Sat Mar 15, 2003 4:22 pm
- Location: Wales
From what I remember of the show a lot of the jokes were very British (I would almost say English but I don't want to exclude myself ) in nature.
For example, talking of Comprehensives becoming Universities is a very ironic jibe at the British education system.
I'll ask some friends if they have a copy of the BBC show (Radio) that can be reproduced and will let people know.
JTS (Like a Bad Penny I always turn up
)
) in nature.For example, talking of Comprehensives becoming Universities is a very ironic jibe at the British education system.
I'll ask some friends if they have a copy of the BBC show (Radio) that can be reproduced and will let people know.
JTS (Like a Bad Penny I always turn up
)