Barney Morin’s: Canadian Guide to La Vie

River Road Productions—Le Théâtre Cercle Molière

Stand up with a message, mocking classic Canadian tropes while questioning the basic functions of colonialism in Canada.

The show is very hit or miss, and Barney felt unpolished. A number of jokes didn’t have the punch they required to really make sense, and noticeable stumbles robbed a number of punchlines the impact they deserved. The commentary on land theft and the responsibility of allyship to our indigenous populations was welcome, but occasionally ended up failing in execution. By far the most standout portions of the show were prerecorded comedy segments, which had the polish they needed to really stick.

Josh Fidelak