titis

By Don Lane

225. students got the winter carnival “‘spirit’’ in the Barn last Wednesday night to see the Hali- fax entertainer, Tony Quinn. Tony stresses the word ‘“enter- tainer’’, becatise he does not con- sider himself to be merely a “comedian’’. Tony told me “I play to a wide variety of audiences and I have to cater to them. I’m not just a comedian — I’m an

entertainer, I have improvise. My style is very skitzy. Sometimes I

- do short jokes, sometimes I like to

make fun of someone in the au-

/ dience, and sometimes I sing Irish

songs.””

Tony started things off quickly by burning people in the front row (never sit there unless you are a good heckler). I don’t think that Phil C. will wear his #99 shirt to

the Barn anymore. This started the crowd laughing, and they seldom stopped laughing all night long.

The crowd that attended had generally good comments about Quinn’s performance. Said a 3rd year Arts student, ‘‘He’s the best

Tony Quinn

guy they’ve ever had.”’ A 2nd year Science student called him ‘‘excel- lent’’. A comment from a 4th year Math student was “‘... it’s nice to see the people coming back into the Barn.’’ On the negative side, a 2nd year Arts student said that “.., it was good at the beginning, but towards the end it was getting hard to laugh at — it was too crude for me.’” Another student thought that Quinn should have been ‘‘a bit quicker with his lines’ Some ©. orable skits were his musicai rendition of Eric Clap- ton’s song “‘cocaine’’. He turned it into a very good song about “John Wayne”. Also, the crowd agreed with Quinn on the quality

of Canadian television show themes. “A fat Greek and an Indian chasin’ logs” really doesn’t sound like a hit show. He also took some good shots at Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, John Allan Cameron, and a certain long running Canadian television country singer, whom he said looked like “‘the goalie for the dart team.””

Not only did Quinn do comedy routines, but he played some

serious songs that most of the audience liked, such as songs by Harry Chapin and the Beatles, While this prompted some people to run to Jim’s, (the Panther Lounge ran out of which didn’t help much) snost stayed until the end.

Students told me that they would come to see him again, and a 2nd year Business student said that “they should book more comedians.” Tony himself said that he would like to come back too, “perhaps during grad week or in the summer.””

Well, I enjoyed myself for the most part, even though I got bored during his monotonous renditions of serious 60’s and 70’s AM pop songs. However, when he got back to, the lighter side, 1 had a good time. I’d give his act a‘7’ outof 10.

On a closing note though, for those of you who were there ... if you ever drive down a long murky road and let Tony flag you down .. beware for he will probably stammer and slur and finally ask you the following question: “Hey buddy, do you hav’ room for a six pack an’ a pizza? ... blaaagghh!””

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there: Ist prize — The Canadian Beavers ee one of the few acts who had their akbar acttogether, hiculties 2nd prize — The trio Chris Larson Lori Lavers and Allison Wall who . sang .... Harmoniously, only a bit F D | = nice yon J needed too soft. Not bad considering ‘only. ra n oy e one day of practice. hible but 3rd Prize — Back talk. Judges! ectieai Were you aromas potatoes in " your ears? jappened to the Blue Brothers? So their act was at If you missed him, then you were out of luck in attending a thevendl!* wal arent Theis: great Irish pub. Though Fran Doyles was only a one-man joaape served 3rd place. show, the packed lounge testified to the quality of the enter- a ae tainment, dit The acts that didn’t make it: ‘ The Nee York aieet cleanes It was good, old, down home country music that ranged j oecabate secoudl tall 100 Worig = t68 bat from Irish ballads to songs about the Maritimes. Crowd ith: some Thy: bubbles 22 erent nonce participation was great. Everyone joined in with plenty of ates and passions <iguiel ae bans slaving, ie stomping and off-key singing. A good ime was hai jihe, au- good-bye, If thi r ae < : . Beagles — should have stayed in this pub becomes a tradition during the winter carnival, ee ae ‘the doghouse and jumped back the ae eae ee rolls around, I would advise that siya: inateaines: you try your best to take it in. You won’t regret it. 3 ‘Technical Betty — what is there to say — Lynne Keating “ich really you neéd more practice. 4s) as well AS for Paul Peacock and Scott iil tind: Ferris, they were great emcees Only one thing wrong — they Photos: wheat nauafite forgot to leave their SWEARING e@aton in the closet. | February 6, 1986 ne ~ > THE; GEM =