The Gambler’s Guide to Joketown @ OFFJFL

Welcome to Joketown.

Joketown is not simply a place that endures in the hearts of those crazy enough to participate in a show that requires all types of performers to band together and stage a play in four days, it is also a way for audiences to make a quick buck, if they know where to place their bets.

Unlike other Montreal comedy shows, Joketown contains a competitive element. At the end of the show, audiences are asked to vote for their favourite play so that the mayorship can be awarded to the writer of the play that garners the most applause. And while the performers rarely take the competitive element seriously, preferring to savour the opportunity to collaborate with and get to know new friends, audience members who have a history of putting it all on red are encouraged by Joketown’s bookies to bet on who they think will become the mayor so that they too can experience the ecstasy of victory or the anguish of defeat.

On Friday, July 21st, OFFJFL is mounting a special presentation of Joketown featuring five of the best plays in the town’s 21-show history. Which cream of the crop will rise to the top? Only time will tell. But with our in-depth analysis of the teams, we can help you place educated bets to help you win a mayorship of cold hard cash.

Team #1: Lar Vi, Coco Belliveau, Amar Singh and Paul Naiman

Not pictured: Paul "Witches Brew" Naiman

Combining the talents of Lar Vi and Coco Belliveau spells one thing: V-E-R-S-A-T-I-L-I-T-Y. They have been known to disappear into their characters while incorporating physicality that would make a mime paint blush on their whitened face. Anchored by the boyish good looks of Amar Singh and the bad boyish good looks of Paul Naiman, the odds of this team taking home the title are 1 in 5.

Team #2: Danny Belair, Maxine Segalowitz and Sehar Manji

Slow-Mo fight scenes galore!

Four-time mayor of Joketown Sehar Manji has proven time and time again that she is a force to be reckoned with. With the prime ministerial presence of Danny Belair and the do-it-all talents of bonafide octuple threat Maxine Segalowitz, this team’s got a 1 in 5 chance to make you beaucoup bucks.

Team #3: Vance Gillis, Gabriel Omassi, Ashley Araneta and Lise Vigneault

Badasses to the bone

There is no question that this cast is going to knock it out of the park, what remains to be seen is whether or not Vance’s jumpsuit costume will cause him to lose all the fluids in his body before the end of the play. So long as Vance doesn’t succumb to dehydration before Gabriel Omassi and Ashley Araneta’s hardboiled chemistry and the presence of ringer Lise Vigneault can delight the audience, you have a 1 in 5 chance of cashing in big time. CA-CHING.

Team #4: Deirdre Trudeau, Emily Bilton, Nicky Fournier and Martha Graham

3 of Roald Dahl's estate's most wanted

In the unlikely event that this team receives a cease and desist from Roald Dahl’s estate, their sequel to Matilda will have audiences thrown in the chokey and won’t let them come out until they are elected mayor by audience applause. With Trudeau’s silly disposition and Bilton’s charismatic characters combined Nicky’s physicality and Martha’s comedic timing results in a near expert level of slapstick madness. Only someone as wretched as Miss Trunchbull wouldn’t give this team 1 in 5 odds of taking home the mayorship.

Team #5: Jacob Greco, Kevin Shustack and Katie Leggit

It will all make sense on July 21st...

The double deadpannery of Kevin Shustack and Jacob Greco is sure to be a not-so silent killer and is it any coincidence that Katie’s surname is a anagram of Legit G? I think not. This being the first ever Joketown winning crew, their legacy may certainly be upheld. 1 in 5 chance of winning, best odds in town.

Place your bets when you buy a ticket to Joketown: Only the Best.

Click here for tickets.