Just for Laughs Review – The Midnight Surprise at Théâtre Sainte-Catherine, July 22, 2016

The Midnight Surprise
Théâtre Sainte-Catherine
July 22, 2015

Based on drop in sets by Dave Chapelle and Louis C.K. last year, The Midnight Surprise show at Théâtre Sainte-Catherine has rightfully become one of the most talked-about shows at Just for Laughs.

In all honesty, the idea of Piff The Magic Dragon (brother of Puff) hosting the opening nights of The Midnight Surprise seemed a bit suspect. A wisecracking magician dressed in a dragon suit and accompanied by his pet Chihuahua seems like the sort of novelty act that belongs on the main outdoor festival drag with the creepy mimes and stilt walkers, not hosting a late-night comedy showcase.

Surprisingly, Piff (real name: John van der Put), was the highlight of the night—a sarcastic British comic with a hilariously put-upon disposition, and a few crowd-pleasing magic tricks. Piff was a finalist on America’s Got Talent, and definitely had a slew of fans in the house. Don’t miss his solo shows this week if you’re looking for an entertaining twist on the traditional stand-up setup.

The surprise bill for this night featured a solid mix of performers from The Ethnic Show and The Nasty Show, including Nasty Show host and recent Quebec Human Rights Tribunal offender Mike Ward, and Brad Williams, who explained how being mistaken for Peter Dinklage got him thrown out of Disney World.

From The Ethnic Show, we got a great set from Jessica Kirson, the self-doubting Jewish comic who literally turns her back to the crowd when her anxiety-ridden inner-monologue takes over. Yannis Pappas, also from The Ethnic Show, had much less success with a tired shtick about how men are genetically hardwired to cheat, which was met with a resounding “Nope!” from the unimpressed crowd.

When you see multiple shows a night at Just for Laughs there are bound to be some repeats, and tonight was no exception, with both Tom Green and Mark Little appearing on the show (both of whom I had caught earlier in the night). Green managed to distill all the best moments form his earlier set into a tight 8-minute block that killed throughout, and Little might have stolen the show with a bit about the nerdiness of Canadian hip hop, complete with a takedown of Drake’s street cred (hint: it involves a lot of math). How Little doesn’t have his own stand-up show at the festival is a total mystery.

While there were no superstar appearances this time around, The Midnight Surprise is still one of the most exciting shows of the fest. A handful of unannounced comics at one of the most intimate venues in town always makes for a great show, and this night was no exception. With NBA superstar Blake Griffin taking over hosting duties from July 26 – 30, you might want to grab your tickets ASAP (if they haven’t been snapped up already).

The Midnight Surprise continues from July 26-30 at Théâtre Sainte-Catherine (264 Rue Sainte-Catherine East). Piff The Magic Dragon performs two shows a night July 25 & 26 at La Chapelle (3700 Rue Saint Dominique). Tickets for all shows are available at hahaha.com.