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 By Courtney Shea | Photography by Derek Shapton

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.

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