The Comic Strippers just want to make people laugh.
The comedy show revolves around the idea of a fictitious male stripper troupe that are tired of stripping and want more respect. Their decision to change their lives results in hilarious adventures where anything can happen.
The show is different each night because everything that happens in the show is based on audience member suggestions.
“It’s like Whose Line is it Anyway meets Magic Mike with dad bodies,” said Ken Lawson, a member of the troupe. “It’s like the audience watching a shirtless high-wire act.”
Lawson said that while the show is called the Comic Strippers, there is no actual stripping. The men do perform shirtless, but don’t remove any other items of clothing.
“It’s quite an innocent show. It’s just really silly,” said Lawson. “We often call it a sexy laugh party.”
While the show includes improv skits, the troupe of male strippers can’t escape their roots.
“When we hear the music we can’t help dance around like idiots,” said Lawson.
Underneath the hilarity, there is also a message about embracing the body type you have said Lawson. It’s not about perfection, he said.
But how do the cast members prepare themselves for different situation every night without a script? Lawson said it’s all about listening to each other. Lawson said there are exercises to train to become better at improv. Listening and having the ability to build upon another person’s story is key.
The cast tries to create a feeling of community and make people laugh.
“One of our goals is to be known as the nicest guys in comedy,” said Lawson.
The Comic Strippers perform at the Port Theatre March 31 at 8 p.m. The show is for audience members 19 years of age and older.
Tickets are $39 or $34 for groups of six available in advance by calling 250-754-8550 or visiting www.porttheatre.com.
The show stars Lawson, who starred in the Canadian sitcom Health Nutz; Roman Danylo, who starred on CTV’s Comedy Inc. and performed on Just For Laughs; Chris Casillan, a Canadian Comedy Award winner and veteran member of Vancouver Theatre Sports and David Milchard the YouTube star of Convos With My 2 Year Old.
For more information about the Comic Strippers, please visit http://thecomicstrippers.com.
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