If you should see David Milchard, Roman Danylon, Ken Lawson and Chris Casillan without their shirts on, don’t worry, it’s OK to laugh.
The four men are part of the Comic Strippers, a Vancouver-based improv comedy troupe that is coming to perform in Penticton on Sept. 29.
As Milchard describes it, the Comic Strippers is a parody of an all-male stripper show, performed by seasoned improvisational sketch comedians. With music and dancing. And without shirts.
“We work with what we have, and we embrace and love what we have,” says Milchard of being a Comic Stripper. “That’s sort of like the cause for good about the show – it’s to get up there and celebrate who and what you are and have a good time.”
Milchard says the Comic Strippers have been doing their thing for about five years now. The show began with a fascination for the success of Chippendales male striptease shows and a question of how that might be emulated comedically.
“Roman Danylow just started off with two people where they did improv with their shirts off and danced when music played, and … the audience was very pleased and they were surprised at how funny it ended up being. And from that moment on, it was like, what if we did something on a bigger scale,” said Milchard. “So we did a monthly show and the next thing you know we were like, let’s see if we can go to Kamloops, let’s see if we can go to Kelowna … It was really kind of an organic evolution.”
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While you may have seen a Comic Strippers performance in the past, because it is improvisational every show is different — for the audience and performers alike.
“Improv, it’s a little bit like magic and wizardry,” laughs Milchard. “When an audience comes and watches a show and they shout out a suggestion for you and we use it and we tell a story off that whole thing, they’re surprised. Maybe nervous for us … We don’t know what’s going to happen next and the fact that you’re able to turn that into a story and make it funny at the same time for the audience, I say it’s frightening. I’m not actually frightened on stage, but I would assume people think it’s frightening.”
With all the confidence of someone who removes his shirt to make people laugh for a living, Milchard guarantees everyone who comes to see the Comic Strippers show in Penticton will laugh from beginning to end.
“I don’t say that lightly because I’ve done a lot of shows, and this is the only one I can say, confidently, ‘Wow, this is it,'” said Milchard. “And I can also say that without the audience, without fans, they make the show, they’re part of the show and their support is why we’re able to go for five years.”
The Comic Strippers, a male stripper parody and improv comedy show, will take place on Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the Cleland Community Theatre. Tickets are $39 ($34 each for groups of six or more). For group sales call 250-490-2426 or email rec@penticton.ca. Tickets can also be purchased at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3513275 or by phone at 1-800-838-3006 (24/7 Customer Service).
