A performer who will grace an Okotoks stage this weekend believes musical instruments have a role to play in comedy.
Comedian Lorne Elliott, who will play the Rotary Performing Arts Centre (RPAC) in Okotoks on Oct. 29, has come across comics in the past who didn’t share the same view.
“I do remember there was a time when I was playing stand up shows if you had a guitar around your neck it was frowned upon frankly,” Elliott said. “The way the class system asserted itself the idea was to be a pure stand-up, but the audience always seemed to like it (the music). Frankly I was more concerned with the audience than what my peers thought of me.”
Having his six string and his own original novelty songs ready to go at any given time during a performance is an Elliott trademark. He explained it allows him to fill a two-hour show with more variety.
Many Canadians know the wild-haired performer from his 11 years of hosting the CBC Radio program “Madly Off In All Directions”. It was an eclectic mix of stand-up, improvisational, sketch and musical comedy recorded live in theaters and clubs across the country.
More than five years after the show ceased production Elliott still regularly plays live venues not only across this country but globally. One part of his comedic repertoire that remains continually in demand is a light-hearted ditty titled called “I Like You”.
The comedian revealed audience members often call out for the song, which tells of a seemingly playful killer whale not afraid to act on his darker instincts.
“‘I Like You’ that’s one nine, 10, 11 and 12 year old boys really like,” Elliott said “It’s not really about violence it’s about unexpectedness and surprise.”
In addition to being a comedian, Elliott is also an award-winning playwright responsible for such comedic romps as “The Night the Raccoons Went Berserk” and “Culture Shock.” He takes pride in not only the plays he’s penned but his comedy songs as well even though they are not respected in the same manner.
“There has always been a strange view toward novelty songs,” he said. “They don’t really fit into any genre yet people always seem to like them.”
Elliott cited John Prine (“Dear Abby”, “It’s a Big Old Goofy World”) and the late Roger Miller (“Dang Me”, “Do-Wacka-Do”) as rare examples of well-regarded songwriters who have successfully delved into novelty song territory. Of course, it’s not awe and admiration Elliott is looking for when he takes the stage with a song like “My Dog Has Fleas” or any of his spoken comedy takes on the world — it’s laughs.
He finds his multi-faceted, story-filled show is well suited to theatre settings like RPAC.
“When I used to play bars the material was much more choppy,” he recalled. “You couldn’t weave a tale that developed line by line over the night with a nice wrap up at the end which is a nice idea.”
The performer revealed he much prefers to do a concert hall performance where one comedic thought can lead easily and naturally into the next.
“It’s nice when it happens,” Elliott said “It leaves the audience with a feeling that this is something special.”
Tickets for Elliott’s one-man show, which will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 29, are available by calling 403-938-9204. They can also be obtained, along with passes for the entire RPAC On With the Show Concert Series, at the Okotoks Art Gallery at 53 North Railway Street.
