A Week ago or so, I hit the Elmdale tavern for an extra-special CRUSH IMPROV show.  It was packed, and it was maybe the funniest improv show I’ve EVER seen, and that may be fitting, as it was Cari Leslie’s last show in town before winging it to be a superstar in Amsterdam.  She, Brad MacNeil, Al Connors and Jordan Moffat positively killed it that night, with the most excellent finishing move of dunking themselves in a bucket of water, repeatedly.  You had to be there.

But that’s history now, and the Ottawa Improv scene has a Cari Leslie-sized hole in it.  For a while now, she’s been the secret comedy weapon in both CRUSH and ‘Bout Time champions THE NEIGHBOURHOOD, and her shoes won’t be easy to fill.  Crush Improv has already announced that she’s being replace in the troupe by the dynamic duo of Jordan Moffatt and Tim Anderson, of which I wholeheartedly approve.  But there’s plenty more besides just Crush goin’ on in ottawa Improv, and I thought I’d take a few moments to blather about it now, if I may.

For instance, just last night I took in the inaugural GRIMPROV show at the Imperial Tavern on Bank, and the lads (Jordan, Mike Kosowan, Drew McFadyen and Joel Garrow) absolutely packed the joint.  Using their own patent-pending ‘Cul-de-Sac’ long form schtick, they kicked off what they hope will be a regular timeslot at the Imperial…although from the opening night crowd, they might already need more room!

Not far away, you can also take in some INSENSITIVITY TRAINING at Yuk Yuk’s on Elgin, every odd numbered Sunday of the month (next show on the 25th), for a mere 5 dollars.  And back on Bank, the Atomic Rooster hosts Jody Haucke, Thea Nikolic and the CRYSTAL BASEMENT kids, the last tuesday of every month…which is coming up fast as well, so clear your calendar.

And this Saturday night (the 24th), over at the Legion Hall on Kent, you can catch an extra-special CRUSH show (starring Brad, Tim and Jordan), which is totally gonna be an excellent time.  Legion halls=Fun, and that’s the truth.  And of course, they’ll be back hosting ‘Bout Time at the Elmdale, first Monday of every month.

I’m sure there’s plenty more going on (or at least a LITTLE bit more), and if anyone has any hot leads, feel free to drop ’em off in a comment.  After all, with Miss Cari gone away, improv in this old government town needs all the help it can get.  Happily, they seem to be off to a good start.  Now go out and have some laffs already.

Peace, love and soul,

The Visitor (and Winston)