Just jokes: 5 standup and sketch shows at the 2018 Winnipeg Fringe Festival

Care to sit down for some standup comedy? Seeking a sketch show?

Look no further. Here's the CBCManitoba review crew's take on fivestandup and sketch comedy shows from the 2018 Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival.

Family Dinner

STARS

For sketch fans, this quintet of talented young comedians offers up a tasty smorgasbord of laughs.

Running through about a dozen sketches in a tight 45 minutes, this troupe has mastered one of the cardinal rules of sketch comedy let no scene linger longer than its premise allows.

We get short, snappy takes on everything from discount airlines (a standout bit) to a hilariously awkward game-show contestant to the world's worst theatre class. Their comedic sensibilities are odd the Kids in the Hall inspiration they cite is apparent.

The group's character work is great JaydinPommer'sweird game-show contestant and her inspirational quote-spewing mom are highlights and their comic timing is bang on.

As in many sketch shows, not every premise pays out with big laughs, but it's a solid pick for anyone looking for a light comic bite.

Reviewed byJoffSchmidt

Darwin vsRednecks

STARS

Kentucky comedian Stewart Huff, the creator of last year's Fringe showDonating Sperm to my Sister's Wife, returns to Winnipeg with a new standup comedy set.

• REVIEW:Donating Sperm to My Sister's Wife

The title is a bit deceiving; it has nothing to do with Charles Darwinand instead focuses on Huff's not-so-flattering view of American culture.

Huff makes his brand of socially conscious comedy easy for a Canadian audience to digest, given he waxes poetic about how much more enlightened and educated he thinks Canadians are.

He's preaching to the choir, and the choir eats it up Huff keptthe audience busting a gut for his entire 60-minute set.

But Huff's set isn't just about calling Americans stupid. He also sees the silver lining in his countrymen and tells a few heartwarming stories that show the humanity in all people.

If you're familiar with Huff's comedy and liked his previous Fringe show, be sure to snag a ticket to Darwin vs Rednecks before it sells out.

Reviewed by Stephanie Cram

I'm Not Taylor Swift

STARS

Winnipeg standupAnjaliSandhuhad some unfortunate opening night glitches with the "badassaudio-visual thing" that was supposed to begin her show. No matter she handled it like a seasoned pro and for the most part, her material is more than strong enough without it.

She's remarkably assured and polished for such a young comedian, with a great sense of timing and a strong stage persona sarcastic and edgy, but as willing to make jokes about herself as she is about her Indian heritage, her occasionally racist grandma and white people. She largely skates on the right side of the fine line between being sarcastic and edgy and just plain mean.

Not all the jokes quite land, and her solid half-hour set might leave you wanting more. But standup comedy fans will be satisfied and she's clearly a young comedian to watch on the local scene.

(Oh, and we did finally get to see the intro video. It was fairlybadass.)

Reviewed byJoffSchmidt

Delightfully Rude

STARS

Delightfully Rude is a solid five minutes of laughs, which is great in standup unless you're slotted for a 60-minute show.

I am a strong supporter of experimentation at the Fringe, but Elaine Orion did not have sufficient tried and true material for a fullhour-long set. If I am seeing a full night of standup, I have no issue with a solid five or 10 from a lineup of performers, but if I am paying for a full-length solo performance, that's what I expect to see.

Orion's material ranges from church life in America, to rape culture, to stocking up on abortion alternatives as the end of days in the U.S. approaches.

Halfway through the set, Orion helpfully explained that some audience members have trouble figuring out how to find her punchlines. She suggested we listen for the pauses awkward ...

Some funny bits but not worth the virtual trip south of the border.

Reviewed by Michelle Palanksy

Sidetrack Bandits: Round 2

STARS

There's stiff competition for sketch comedy performers at the Fringe. If you want to get bums in seats, you need to be good. Consistently good.

Sidetrack Bandits aren't. The three men and one woman who make up the troupe have one excellent sketch, about a couple with a Netflix addiction. For the most part, the rest of their show falls flat. A Star Trek parody barely lifts off.

The good news for Sidetrack Bandits is that they have good energy and a good keyboardist. Hopefully they'll have better material next year.

Reviewed by Kaj Hasselriis