Funny or die

Zoofest continues to bring the laughs with a rooster of far-out and fresh talent

Some of the most subversive, experimental acts you’ll find at Just for Laughs (Louis C.K. aside), you’ll find under the Zoofest banner. Now in its third year, it continues to turn out some of the most unexpected hit shows thanks to a roster of comedians who bring something fresh and often unpredictable to the fest.

Maria Bamford is one comic who shouldn’t be missed. She takes “too-much-information” to new levels of clever, weird hilarity with Unwanted Thoughts Syndrome, July 25–28 and 30, 10 p.m., at Théâtre Ste-Catherine (264 Ste-Catherine E.). Fellow female stand-up Nina Conti keeps it weird with her Montreal debut Talk to the Hand, July 25–29, 7:30 p.m. at Katacombes (1635 St-Laurent) in which she attempts to woo the crowd with an armful of puppets, including her sidekick Monkey.

John Mulaney steps out from behind his writer’s desk at Saturday Night Live to bring audiences Making Fun, July 26–30, 11:30 p.m., at Théâtre Ste-Catherine, and Hannibal Buress opens up about his love of older women among other things in The Hannibal Montanabal Experience, July 21–30, 7 p.m., at Théâtre Ste-Catherine.

BARGAIN BASEMENT LAUGHS

Started in a basement in Brooklyn, Eugene Mirman’s (who you might recognize as the landlord from Flight of the Conchords) weekly show Pretty Good Friends takes to the stage at, wait for it, a skateshop on July 25, 8:30 p.m., and 26–30 at 10 p.m. We can only assume it’ll be happening on street-level not in the Underworld (251 Ste-Catherine E.) stock room. Local comic Deanne Smith also storms the Underworld stage with About Freakin’ Time, July 21–30, 8:30 p.m., in which she’ll transport you 50 minutes into the future.

If you like your jokes with a little more melody, check out Double Threat, July 26–28, 11:59 p.m. at Katacombes. Guitarist Nick Tune and Anthony Jeselnik (who writes for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon) join forces and styles to create a musical comedy love-child.

If So I’m Fucking this Girl, Right? doesn’t sound like the most interesting show so far, than you might as well sit this whole fest out. Ari Shaffir takes to the stage at Café Cleopatra (1230 St-Laurent) from July 26–30, 11:59 p.m., to riff on his most memorable sexual trysts.

Paul F. Tompkins returns to the fest for the second year running with Life’s Work, July 25–30, 9 p.m. Staying true to his assertion the comedy clubs are the absolute worst, he’ll regale audi­ences with tales of how he turned from regular Joe into stage and screen star at Katacombes.

BEYOND STAND-UP

Straight-up stand-ups aren’t the only acts on the bill; actress/comedian Sarah Quinn remounts her one-woman show Other People’s Problems, which satirizes the self-improvement indus­try, July 21–23 and 26–30, 7 p.m. at La Chapelle (3700 St-Dominique).

Kahlil Ashanti brings hip hop, mamba and (hopefully) laughs together in his autobiographical show Basic Training, July 21–22, 7:30 p.m., based on his experience as a performer for American troops. It’s at Studio-Théâtre in Place des Arts (185 Ste-Catherine W.).

Finally, comedian Greg Proops is the special guest at Set List, July 28, 11:59 p.m., at Cleopatra Café. A predetermined list of joke themes lets audiences see the comedy mind at work in this Whose Line is it Anyway?-type challenge. ■

SEE ZOOFEST.COM FOR FULL SCHEDULE AND DETAILS. ALL TICKETS ARE UNDER $20.

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