ONSTAGE
What: Derek Edwards
When: Tonight, 7:30
Where: McPherson Playhouse
Tickets: $47.50 at the McPherson box office, by phone at 250-386-6121 or online at rmts.bc.ca
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In 30 years as a performer, Derek Edwards has come to realize that comedy audiences share certain qualities, no matter the city or country.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a category of people who like to go out and see comedy, and they are lighthearted and maybe a little experimental and fun-loving,鈥� Edwards said Thursday from Vancouver. 鈥淭hey like to support live performers.鈥�
There are exceptions, of course. 鈥淥nce you鈥檙e in Newfoundland, everything鈥檚 different. And Cape Bretoners 鈥� they may as well be in the middle of the Atlantic. You鈥檙e in a different friggin鈥� world.鈥�
Asked for an example, the comedian from Timmons, Ont., who is now based in Scarborough, was quick to point to the A & K Lick-A-Chick, which, he maintains, is the most popular restaurant in Cape Breton. 鈥淪ure, there鈥檚 a chicken on the roof 鈥� but come on, people. How do you get away with that?鈥�
Relentless touring through smaller Canadian communities has given Edwards more material than he could ever hope to include in his standup routine.
Edwards, who stays away from cruel digs, is the epitome of a blue-collar comic: no ego, just well-told, relatable stories about dogs and camping and the like.
Edwards doesn鈥檛 feel anyone should have to suffer for their art, comics included. 鈥淚 know a few guys I鈥檝e toured with who were always on. And in no time, you find out why nobody wants to tour with those guys.鈥�
He strives for common ground in his performances. If he鈥檚 headed for a community known for its uniqueness 鈥� such as Victoria鈥檚 reputation for all things British 鈥� he鈥檒l read up on the area to familiarize himself. That approach has never failed him. 鈥淔unny is funny,鈥� Edwards said. 鈥淏ut everybody鈥檚 perspective is a little bit different. If you can get anywhere close to the point where they trust you, because they know you think exactly like they do, that鈥檚 the dream.鈥�
He was in Vancouver for the kickoff to his exhausting run through the province: 10 shows in 10 days, including five on Vancouver Island. Edwards will perform tonight in Victoria at the McPherson Playhouse, Saturday in Courtenay at the Sid Williams Theatre, Sunday in Campbell River at the Tidemark Theatre, Monday in Nanaimo at the Port Theatre, and Tuesday in Duncan at the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre. The dates are part of his first West Coast excursion in two years.
Edwards does runs like this all the time, but when he talks about his preparation for each performance, it鈥檚 clear he battles a certain amount of stage fright. It has caused grief on occasion.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 even eat after 3:30 p.m. on the day of a performance. I鈥檓 a hungry monster by the time I get on stage. And I鈥檓 so full of adrenalin afterwards that I can鈥檛 eat then, either.鈥�
The stress isn鈥檛 enough to make him quit. In fact, he developed a way to channel the anxiety into motivation for the next show, keeping in mind how pre-show jitters turn into post-show elation. 鈥淭he anxiety adds to the fun, really,鈥� he said.
Edwards admits he鈥檚 not an analytical or political comic; rather, he bases his routine on witty observations. That鈥檚 a big part of his rapport with audiences, who have made him one of the steadiest-drawing comics in sa国际传媒. 鈥淚鈥檓 not a soapbox guy,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 out for the cheap laughs.鈥�
Perfection remains elusive for Edwards, as it does most comics. The thrill of the chase is what keeps his attention, he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one of those hobbies, like golf. You鈥檒l never be satisfied with how you did. Sometimes, you fluke one onto the green from out in the bush, but mostly it鈥檚 in the water. You鈥檙e taking chances all the time.鈥�