Downward Facing Broad Feb. 8 – 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Expect to hear chuckles, giggles and guffaws emanating from Tir-na-nOg Feb. 8, courtesy of one funny lady.
Comedian, actress, author and CBC Debaters regular Deborah Kimmett is bringing her comedy show Downward Facing Broad to Bowen Island.
The Toronto-based comedian started touring the 80-to-90 minute comedy, storytelling, musical event in 2018 and in May 2019 recorded it as a live CBC comedy special––the ensuing CD “Howl and Roar”, Itunes Playlist listed among the top 5 Canadian Comedy Albums of 2019.
“It’s about turning 60 and how people tend to say 60 is the new 40,” says Kimmett. “[But] you’re like only to 60 year olds, 40-year olds are like, ‘it’s actually not.’”
“So it’s about just not wanting to be put out to pasture,” she says.
Kimmett laughs that she found folks in her generation particularly thought that they were the ‘cool parents’: they treated their children as friends, ‘enriched’ their kids so thought they wouldn’t have a generation gap. “And then, you know, to find out at 60 that you actually are dated.”
While the show isn’t for families, it could be of interest to younger people.
“I had a very young director in his early 30s [Second City’s Christian Smith] because I wanted to make sure that it didn’t sound like ‘Ah you know, in my day,’ says Kimmett. “And what we really talked about is the show is about…staying relevant, even when you’re young.”
“I think a lot of people who are their 30 are trying to find their way,” she says. “It’s been harder for [Millennials] to find what their careers are going to be because work keeps changing in our society.”
While the two shows will be Kimmett’s first on Bowen, it won’t be her first time on-island. Last year, after filming a Debaters episode in Victoria, Kimmett decided to visit Bowen and her hosts were former Undercurrent editor Meribeth Deen and her husband Ross (who had also been working sound at the Debaters event the previous night). The island way of life also appeals to Kimmett as she lived for more than a decade on Amherst Island near Kingston.
And it appears that Kimmett’s comedy appeals to islanders as well as the evening show is sold out. However, Kimmett added a matinee, for which a few tickets remain.
For tickets and more information visit brownpapertickets.com/event/4439167.
