Russell Peters and Trey Anthony on jokes, race and jokes about race
The place: Cora’s Breakfast and Lunch in Woodbridge. The people: comedians Russell Peters and Trey Anthony. The subject: jokes, race and jokes about race
Russell Peters has been poking fun at his fellow Indians—not to mention Brits, Jamaicans, Chinese and just about every other ethnicity—for more than two decades now, selling out the Air Canada Centre and ranking among the top 10 highest-paid stand-up comedians on the planet along the way. His latest DVD, The Green Card Tour, Live from the O² Arena, filmed in London, England, is a must-see for comedy-loving couch potatoes. Trey Anthony, the British-born Jamaican-Canadian playwright and actor, has also made it her job to send up stereotypes. Ten years ago, her career leapt from the Fringe (where her play ’da Kink in My Hair, about a West Indian hair salon, debuted) to the foreground (’da Kink became a hit for Mirvish and was turned into a sitcom). The play is getting a rejig and a remount next month at the Harbourfront Centre, before heading out on a North American tour that will spread Anthony’s brand of hysterical and heartwarming sass to audiences across the southern U.S. But the comedians have more in common than just the polarizing race card. Both grew up in Brampton, both cite their families as the ultimate source of hilarity, and both say Canadians need to get over their tall poppy hang-ups. We got them together at Cora’s in Woodbridge (one of Peters’ favourite hangouts), bought brunch (extra sausage) and listened in.
’da Kink in My Hair
Aug. 12 to 21
Harbourfront Centre
The Green Card Tour, Live from the O₂ Arena
On shelves now
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- “I started to do the Indian accent to avoid being harassed—it would disarm bullies. I realized early on that it was my ace in the hole. And when I began doing stand-up, the first laugh I got was for the accent.”
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- THE COLOUR OF FUNNY
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- “When I was a teenager, I moved to Brampton from an apartment in Rexdale where the roaches would shoot you if they could. In Brampton, kids were getting $10 a day as allowance. That’s when I started making jokes. I knew I couldn’t compete otherwise.”
- THE COLOUR OF FUNNY
- THE COLOUR OF FUNNY
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- “My first drafts of <em>’da Kink</em> included heavier material that dealt with incest and suicide. A lot of Jamaicans felt that I shouldn’t be writing about my community in that way, that I shouldn’t be exposing it to outsiders.”
- THE COLOUR OF FUNNY
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- “I work really hard to get Canadian audiences onside. Canadians don’t want you to have the upper hand in knowing that you made them laugh. They stand there with their arms crossed and stare at you.”
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- THE COLOUR OF FUNNY
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- “The minute I read a headline, even about something as tragic as the tsunami in Japan, I start thinking about the jokes. I don’t always say them, but if they’re clever enough I can get away with it.”
- THE COLOUR OF FUNNY
- THE COLOUR OF FUNNY
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- “I remember when I made a joke about that little Asian girl who went missing a few years ago. I said that it could never happen in a West Indian family because they know where their kids are at all times, and everyone went, “Ewwwwwww.” Too soon.”
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 to the foreground (’da Kink became a hit for Mirvish and was turned into a sitcom). The play is getting a rejig and a remount next month at the Harbourfront Centre, before heading out on a North American tour that will spread Anthony’s brand of hysterical and heartwarming sass to audiences across the southern U.S. But the comedians have more in common than just the polarizing race card. Both grew up in Brampton, both cite their families as the ultimate source of hilarity, and both say Canadians need to get over their tall poppy hang-ups. We got them together at Cora’s in Woodbridge (one of Peters’ favourite hangouts), bought brunch (extra sausage) and listened in.
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THEATRE
’da Kink in My Hair
Aug. 12 to 21
Harbourfront Centre
COMEDY
The Green Card Tour, Live from the O₂ Arena
On shelves now
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a much better version here…
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/four-comics-walk-into-a-breakfast-bar/article1778081/page1/