It’s been a few years since Elvira Kurt was in Vernon to celebrate International Women’s Day.
For those who caught her act the last time she was in town, expect more politically and socially astute observations from one of Canada’s most beloved comediennes.
Kurt joins the Laff Riot Girls for the ninth annual I am Woman, Hear me Laff show presented by the Vernon Performing Arts Centre society on Friday.
“The show is a celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women, as well as women’s economic, political and social achievements,” said Erin Kennedy, artistic director at the Performing Arts Centre.
“Together these four sassy ladies will unite for the ultimate evening of absolutely hilarious antics, so bring along your best gal pals or that special man in your life for a night of laughter, mayhem, and a whole ton of unexpected comedic shenanigans.”
Voted Funniest Female Comic at the Canadian Comedy Awards, Kurt now spends a lot of her time crossing the border from her home in Los Angeles.
Besides acting as a judge on Second City’s Next Comedy Legend on CBC, she is also a frequent guest on CBC Radio’s The Debaters.
Last year she began a weekly segment on CBC Radio’s Q with Jian Ghomeshi. Through her Cultural Hall of Shame, Kurt has made her thoughts known on what she deems as the absurd and ridiculous, such as the Vancouver dance studio that offered pole dancing classes — to children, as well as the need for bacon scented shaving cream.
Joining Kurt will be Laff Riot Girls’ Lee-Ann Keple, Julia Stretch and Linda Feuerhelm.
Keple has performed at comedy festivals all across Western Canada, appeared on Out TVs Out For Laughs, and is a founding member of Vancouver improv troupe The Bobbers.
She co-produces the Laff Riot Girls’ Funniest New Female Comic Competition, now in its 10th year.
Keple says she is one half of the only married lesbian couple doing stand up in Canada, and if that isn’t the case anymore, she knows she is the only one whose wife of six years, Ardell Brophy Fitzpatrick, had a double lung transplant in 2012.
Fitzpatrick is the founder of the Laff Riot Girls and received a Diamond Jubilee medal last month for her work in comedy and her commitment to helping local charities.
“She can’t wait to get back and perform in Vernon in 2013,” said Keple.
Stretch has performed everywhere from corporate Christmas parties to Prairie Legion halls, tricked-out basements, campgrounds in Texas and at Toronto Pride. She has appeared on CBC, Sirius XM, OUTtv and NBC’s Last Comic Standing.
As an improviser she is a member of the Bobbers troupe and appears in the televised and live versions of their show Tops & Bottoms.
Currently based in Vancouver, she grew up in Innisfail, Alta., and began performing stand up while living in Calgary.
Fellow Alberta-raised comedienne Feuerhelm tells jokes ranging from parenthood to dating, and a little of everything in between. Adored by young and old, her animated stories of life and its regrets have crowds relating in their own lives. She was a finalist in the Laff Riot Girls’ competition in 2010 and 2011 and has her eyes on the prize this year.
She has toured extensively, most notably with the Planet Tour and the Boob Tour.
I am Woman, Hear me Laff takes the stage at the Performing Arts Centre March 8 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35/adult, $32/senior, $30/student at the Ticket Seller, 549-7469, www.ticketseller.ca.
