Subverting the norm

Comedian DeAnne Smith uses her dorky,
library lovin’ persona for good, not evil

DOING THE RIGHT THING: Smith

by LINA HARPER

There is no magic recipe, no Hogwarts School of Comedy, no trite guide to the art and mayhem of becoming a comedy professional like DeAnne Smith. “It’s kind of like a secret society, comedy, because you never really know what the next step is...it just happens. It’s not like a set career path that’s as clear as somebody who, you know, studies computer science.”

Her stand-up exposes her as an openly dorky, Harry Potter-esque lady who has been known to rap about libraries on stage.

This lady of mirth is not really into wasting time, either. In four short years, Smith went from struggling comedian to globetrotting queer darling of comedy. And now she can’t really quit her day job, because making people laugh is Smith’s full-time gig. She’s able to do this, albeit with some efforts, by running shows around the city.

She started a night of interactive storytelling—Tale Spin!—at the lesbian-friendly Cagibi; she helps run the monthly Comedy OFF the Main, and recently started a new show at Théâtre Ste-Catherine, the cabaret spectacle Stand Up/Strip Down. Even on the national scale, people are taking notice of the bright-eyed newcomer. Last year, she won two Best Newcomer awards at the Canadian Comedy Award and the Sydney Cracker Comedy, respectively. 

Smith’s focus now is on a show she’s developing for her one-woman show, DeAnne Smith Lacks Focus, playing in Australia this winter. Curious folk can see her work in progress when she previews the show here in February.

Smith is humble enough not to forget her roots though. Meow Mix organizer Miriam Ginestier has been incredibly supportive, says Smith, in getting her local exposure with the queers. Ginestier was the first to get her a paid gig doing stand-up at the monthly queer cabaret/dance party. She also did a mini-comedy tour in the States last year, with fellow queer ladies the Dykes of Hazard.

“When you’re on your real path, it’s not even a question of ‘Am I doing the right thing?’ It’s just like this is all I want to do,” Smith says.

So do the ladies have her pegged as a cute, smart, funny sex symbol yet? Well, not really. 

“As a comedian, it’s not really your job to get up there and be a very together person. It’s funnier to be the dork, you know?”