COWARDS OMNIMEDIA - Home Of Toronto's Tastiest Comedy Duo

Fool's gold -- festival of improv, comedy, magic and a game show

By Tyler Gray, Orlando Sentinal

February 15, 2002

The Donut Show, Skullduggery in the Sky, Drunk Babies, Spandex and girl on girl action -- all in one convenient location.

No, it's not an adult circus sideshow at the fairgrounds, though titles of shows and troupes at Sak Theatre's Foolfest this year sound odd.

More accurately, they sound like titles suggested by audience members in typical improv-theater tomfoolery.

Wherever the names come from, Foolfest is six days of improvisational theater, comedy, magic and even a game show called You Bet Your Honkey, all at Orlando comedy staple, Sak Theatre, 398 W. Amelia St. There are local troupes and groups coming from as far away as Toronto. You fans of Whose Line Is It Anyway, you proud followers of hometown laugh lad Wayne Brady, this is your kind of gig. If last year's premiere of the festival is any indication, actors in the weeklong gathering don't settle for the tired old improv you remember from your high school drama class.

OK, who has a color? Just call out a color! OK, who has a name of a popular sport? Call out a popular sport! All right, now a profession. Give me a profession!

I can think of no greater torture than shows where audiences do more work than performers. Thankfully, neither can some of the performers.

"We're in charge of the funny making, they're in charge of the standing still and not getting in our way," says Mark Richardson of Toronto comedy troupe The Cowards.

He's joking, of course. He and partner Dave Pearce actually perform long-form sketches. "It tends to be structured more like a one-act play," Pearce says. "You always know where you are in the format."

The two describe themselves as less of an improv group, more of a sketch comedy duo. "It's a Mad TV, Saturday Night Live-type vibe," Richardson says. "Like Tenacious D but better and thinner."

The gloves are off, the tight flame pants are on for the troupe's Spandex shows Friday and Sunday at Foolfest.