British Columbians are recovering from a devastating year of turbulent weather, with raging fires immediately following devastating floods.
To lighten the mood, Ontario funny-man Derek Edwards is ready to make his rounds with his Alls I乌鸦传媒檓 Saying tour, with an Oct. 28 stop at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre.
乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檝e been worried about B.C.,乌鸦传媒� said Edwards, a Timmins, Ont. product. 乌鸦传媒淟et乌鸦传媒檚 see if I can bring some levity to the group.乌鸦传媒�
Edwards, in Vernon for the third time, said he avoids hot political satire in his routine, opting for a more light-hearted approach.
乌鸦传媒淚 have a variety of fluff in my big kit bag on the road that changes every night,乌鸦传媒� Edwards said. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 just escapism, have-fun comedy.乌鸦传媒�
That doesn乌鸦传媒檛 mean he avoids important topics, though.
乌鸦传媒淪ometimes you can catch on to something that乌鸦传媒檚 a big issue that works,乌鸦传媒� Edwards said. 乌鸦传媒淏ut that kind of (American politics) stuff I just leave to the Yanks.乌鸦传媒�
Despite his often light-hearted approach, the Just For Laughs veteran said his brand of comedy isn乌鸦传媒檛 for everyone.
乌鸦传媒淧lease, for God乌鸦传媒檚 sake, leave your kids at home,乌鸦传媒� he laughed. 乌鸦传媒淐anada is so courteous. If there乌鸦传媒檚 even one kid in the crowd that feels uncomfortable, everyone is uncomfortable.乌鸦传媒�
And it乌鸦传媒檚 a technique that has worked for Edwards, who boasts a comedy career that spans three decades.
But, if he ever hangs up the microphone, he isn乌鸦传媒檛 without a backup plan.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檇 like to be a player in a big Canadian fishing movie, or a carpenter,乌鸦传媒� Edwards laughed, adding he hasn乌鸦传媒檛 put much thought into it.
For now, however, comedy will have to do, Edwards said. Though he isn乌鸦传媒檛 sad about the prospects of continuing to get on stages of all sizes to share his musings.
乌鸦传媒淚 love the immediacy of the reaction. You乌鸦传媒檙e kind of learning at this exponential rate 乌鸦传媒� I learn faster, I count faster,乌鸦传媒� he laughed. 乌鸦传媒淵ou乌鸦传媒檙e treading water, and if you stop for a minute乌鸦传媒ξ谘淮綕
And for Edwards, that audience connection is what it乌鸦传媒檚 all about.
乌鸦传媒淲hat乌鸦传媒檚 better than getting a good chuckle out of somebody?乌鸦传媒� Edwards said. 乌鸦传媒淲hen they乌鸦传媒檙e all ready and have a grin on their face, it乌鸦传媒檚 magic.乌鸦传媒�
Edwards is bringing his 90-minute stand-up routine to the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre stage Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available for $47.50 through the Ticket Seller, 250-549-7469, .
