Get ready to laugh out loud as a cast of star-studded comics hit the stage at the inaugural Newmarket Comedy Show on April 27.
“It is going to be six different comics, stylistically, and it is booked in a way that there will be someone that will be everyone’s favourite I believe,” said Jesse Ralph. “I think it will be a great show with a bunch of different energies and styles. I hope I’m my girlfriend’s favourite that night.”
The show will feature an ensemble of hilarious comedians, including Cathy Boyd, Kyle Brownrigg, Ernie Vicente, Daniel Shaw, Evan Dubois, and Newmarket’s own Jesse Ralph.
“Cathy Boyd is so funny,” said Ralph. “I think we started around the same time, but she was already a great joke writer, and she stood in the pocket. I remember she was destroying these shows when you only did 10 minutes, and shortly after, she was closing shows doing 20 to 30 minutes. I worked with her a couple of months back and she did 40 minutes.”
Boyd has toured Canada and the United States, always cracking jokes. She is thrilled to be included in the line-up.
“This line-up at the Newmarket town hall is lit, as the kids say,” said Boyd.
Boyd claims to be a brutally honest comedian, mediocre tennis player, and mother of four who readily admits three children would have been good enough. She is known for her dry demeanour with punchlines that hit heavy, which can be different from how other comics present themselves.
“I’m very dry and I've been told by one person that I should be endearing to the audience and that is not my forte,” said Boyd.
She entered the comedy scene later in life but made up for it by being crowned Comedian of the North in 2019. Boyd displayed a tone of humility in her voice despite her accomplishments over the years.
“That gives you a lot of encouragement.. and that you are worthy of it,” said Boyd. “Every year, I always like to do better than I did the previous year. It’s a struggle because there’s a lot of competition, especially in Toronto, and there’s a lot of shows I’m not suited for.”
Ralph said the Town of Newmarket reached out to him to host an event locally, as they previously provided events for arts and music.
Hosting the show at Newmarket's Old Town Hall on Botsford Street holds some significance for Ralph as his parents had their wedding reception at the venue.
“I think it’s very funny,” said Ralph. “My parents got married at the church across the parking lot from Old Town Hall, had a wedding reception at Old Town Hall and I went to divorced kids counselling at the church across from Old Town Hall. It’s all kind of full circle. Now I’m performing at Old Town Hall.”
He is currently working on material about his grandfather who lives in Sault Ste. Marie and his girlfriend’s grandfather who lives close by in a retirement centre.
“I’ve been spending a lot of time with him at his old folks’ home,” said Ralph. “It’s pretty easy to get material from elderly people, but it has to be done in a way that is loving,” said Ralph.
For more information about the show and to purchase tickets visit https://www.newmarket.ca/oldtownhall
