Brits and Irish conquer Montreal

British and Irish based comics have again been hailed the toast of Montreal’s Just For Laughs comedy festival.

Tommy Tiernan, granted the rare chance to perform a one-man show for a week following his superlative gala perfomance at last year’s event, was one of the biggest hits.

Trade magazine Variety, the bible for Hollywood executives, headlined its report on the industry-dominated festival: ‘Tiernan Tops Laff Fest Buzz’.

The Irishman landed a deal to appear on The Late Show With David Letterman on the back of his sold-out show, and the paper also said he is in discussions with another talkshow.

But he was not the only talent from this side of the Atlantic to succeed.

The Montreal Gazette ignored home-grown talent to hail Scotsman Danny Bhoy and London-based Australian Jim Jeffries – who was promoted to headliner of the festival’s Nasty Show after the first two performance - as their festival highlights.

The paper said: ‘Few slayed like Bhoy and Jeffries  Bhoy brought down the houses at Just for Laughs' biggest room, Theatre St. Denis, and its smallest, the Comedyworks, over the last week. That pretty much guarantees Bhoy can play any room, in front of any crowd.

‘Jeffries spews real rude, but like the great ones he's able to turn filth into an art form.’

Journalist Bill Brownstein even tipped Bhoy for the solo slot this year – which, as Tiernan found – can be a fast-track into the minds of studio executives

Among the newcomers, the paper also listed Rhod Gilbert among the favourites, and earlier in the week a review had singled out Dylan Moran for having the best joke: "Your potential? Leave it alone. It's like your bank balance. You always have a lot less than you think."

Less surprisingly, Eddie Izzard was also a festival favourite with his one-off performance.

Just For Laughs executive Bruce Hills called the show "a love-in, probably the most magical show I’ve seen in years”.

Izzard also appeared on The Greg Proops Chat Show a talk show pilot that Variety said ‘generated considerable industry interest.’

Click here for the Montreal Gazette story

Published: 25 Jul 2005