UPDATE APRIL 20:
Illness has forced a Canadian comic to cancel his upcoming performances.
Derek Edwards was slated to perform in Vernon and Kelowna April 24 and 25, but is postponing the show.
Promoter Terry McRae said it is not COVID, but something else to do with his lungs, which has made Edwards very ill.
The Vernon Performing Arts Centre show has been moved to Sept. 8, followed by Sept. 9 at the Kelowna Community Theatre.
Refunds will also be offered as necessary.
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ORIGINAL April 14:
Derek Edwards is kind of like your funniest friend.
The stand-up comic is super easy going, and chuckles along as he’s telling joke after joke. His affable personality makes you want to root for him, and crowds have for three decades.
His first tour of British Columbia since BC (Before COVID-19) brings him to Vernon’s Performing Arts Centre April 24 and Kelowna’s Community Theatre April 25.
Edwards said he hopes the audience will wear masks, so he won’t be able to tell that they’re not smiling as he shakes off the rust from not having performed as often over the last two years.
“I’d really like a courteous and forgiving crowd as I get started out,” he jokes.
READ MORE: Canadian comedian bringing comedy catharsis to Campbell River
READ MORE: Canadian comic Derek Edwards is back with his Alls I’m Saying show
In Praise of the Ostrich is Edwards’ new 90-minute special.
Inspiration for the many jokes came just as regularly, even though he wasn’t out-and-about as much as he was used to.
“I could be inside watching Netflix, or whatever’s on the tube, and I’ll go – Ohhhh, that’s a great idea for a joke,” he said. “I could be retired for 20 years, and will still see something that will cause a knee jerk reaction to write something down.”
Audience members can expect commentary on the influx of pot stores, self-driving cars, gambling tips, the challenge of staying youthful and dressing warmly.
“It’s therapeutic for me to be working again,” he said. “So with therapeutic goodness on my end, and positive energy from the crowd that maybe haven’t had a night out in a while, I’m hoping its going to hit that crucial mass and kick it over the edge.”
Tickets are $55, available at ticketseller.ca and selectyourtickets.com.
ronan.odoherty@campbellrivermirror.com
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