TOsketchfest23 Review: Brunch & Try-Racial

Brunch

Think nuanced comedy done right. Brunch, the comedy duo, take the cake when it comes to finding that sweet spot between over-the-top farce and not quite enough humour.

Allie Entwistle and Kerri Donaldson make up this troupe, each coming with their own flare but melding together seamlessly. They have a knack for taking scenarios seen before, making them just slightly absurd and abundantly hilarious. But, the two also manage to make an audience question pop culture items that society has normalized—some mundane and some that require a little more thought.

Did The Magic School Bus travelled anywhere they seriously shouldn’t have? Is Cash Cab really safe if the driver doubles as the host? Do child labour laws apply to Chip in Beauty and the Beast? I can’t say Entwistle and Donaldson will have the answers for you but they will surely make you laugh as you ponder those questions.

Next up was Try-Racial bringing a satire-filled show with their sketches. Composed of Vivek Strikanthan, Derek Kalala, and John Taylor, the three performers outline stereotypes with humour. They successfully point out racism in politics, friendships, and workforces while maintaining their comedy. Try-Racial also throws in some quick sketches, both in wit and pace, that pack some hilarity.

Their delivery and punchlines could use some workshopping but the three have a chemistry that pulls an audience in. They bounce from friends to colleagues to strangers, each time smoothly building their relationships—it’s clear this trio’s friendship off the stage make for strong charisma on the stage.

The Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival runs until March 19, 2023.
See Try-Racial and Brunch on March 11 at 9pm.