There's nothing funny about the fires in Fort McMurray, which is exactly why Prince George comedians and a special guest headliner are firing up their microphones.
One of the comedy kingpins in P.G., Mike McGuire, has been producing semi-regular standup shows for various charities for a couple of years, now.
He was already turning his mental wheels about the devastating forest fires when he spotted a little item in his online comedic network, and the dominoes all tumbled. He is bringing in the very comedian who was supposed to be entertaining Fort McMurray when the Wood Buffalo region burst into flames.
"Simon King is probably one of the best of the 'smart' standup comedians in Canada," said McGuire.
"I saw a posting of his saying 'hey, if anyone's got a gig for me, I was supposed to perform in Fort Mac but now I can't' so I called him and we set all this up."
King will be the headliner. He has a big spotlight in the Canadian comedy scene. He's been on the bill at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival, as well as top events in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Las Vegas and Aspen. He has a full-length comedy album called Unfamous, he was the star of a half-hour comedy special for the No Kidding series on I-Channel, and a one-hour special for CTV-The Comedy Network. He splits his time between Canada and England.
He has a rapid-fire stream of consciousness style of delivery, which is why McGuire applied the "smart" sticker. King cracks off his social satire and one-liners like Dan Hamhuis doing a slapshot drill.
"He talks so fast, but his understanding of life, his ability to think through a subject and defend a position is right at the front of his mind," said McGuire.
"I can come up with fantastic arguments an hour after the discussion is over; he accesses those thoughts right now. He speaks so quickly because he thinks so quickly."
Local people gave rapid-fire support to make the show happen. UNBC donated the Canfor Theatre, graphic artist Virginia O'Dine donated the visual designs necessary to advertise (she is also a standup comedian and donated her performance skills), Staples did the printing of posters and tickets as a contribution, and some of the name comics of the area promptly signed on to ensure a hilarious set of performers was in place to warm up the audience for King.
"This is my capability. I can't fly a plane to drop water on things, but I can tell jokes, and I know a lot of other people who have kind hearts and funny jokes, so here we are," McGuire said, who is arranging this special event in absentia, as he is out of town on a previously scheduled trip, returning only three days ahead of the show.
"It's funny, I was just messaging back and forth with the local comedy crew telling them it was so great of them to jump in and do in seven days what we usually take 60 days to do," McGuire said. "Bang-bang-bang everyone just jumped in to help. It was P.G. doing what P.G. does."
The Simon King and local friends show takes place Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Canfor Theatre at UNBC.
The undercard includes McGuire, O'Dine, Brian Majore, Jon White, Mwanasi Loongo, Devon Flynn, and Cindy Klassen.
Tickets are on sale now at Books & Company, Studio 2880 and Grizzly Auto. Tickets can be purchased for a minimum donation of $10.
All proceeds over costs will go to the Red Cross, earmarked for Fort McMurray relief efforts.
