Brownstein: Sugar Sammy throws warning to the wind in bilingual sequel

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It’s a grittier, a lot harder-hitting Sugar Sammy. However for those who have been tickled by his first bilingual spectacle, his follow-up, You’re Gonna Rire 2, will induce uncontrolled physique spasms, and, assured, you’ll “rire” such as you haven’t for a lot too lengthy a time. 

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It’s been seven years since Sugar Sammy wrapped his ground-breaking, first You’re Gonna Rire, the best-selling debut one-man present in Quebec historical past.  

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Fortunately, Sugar Sammy is again and simply within the nick of time for audiences extra in want of mirth than ever. He has kicked off the Montreal portion of the You’re Gonna Rire 2 tour at — good contact — Le Centre Pierre-Péladeau and, no shock, tickets for his 40 exhibits till the top of September right here have lengthy been offered out. 

(Ten performances have simply been added to the Montreal run in October and November, for which tickets can be found, for now. Exhibits in Quebec Metropolis, Gatineau, Trois-Rivières, Magog and Sherbrooke are largely gone, earlier than his tour hits Moncton, Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg — the place tickets had lately gone on sale.)

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Sugar Sammy takes no prisoners this time. In his quest to bridge the 2 solitudes — and some others — and to maintain patrons convulsing, he’s in assault mode continuous for 90 minutes, firing off pictures at a machine-gun-like clip.  

However he will get away with it, as a result of he does it most democratically, verbally assaulting all equally and doing it with a child-like, glowing smile cemented to his mug, making his shtick so arduous to withstand. 

Whereas a lot of his act is scripted, a great portion isn’t.  

Sugar Sammy crafts his scripted materials with masterful precision, culminating with ceaselessly sudden punchlines. To drop them right here would spoil the shock for followers set to see the present, so I gained’t. However belief me, there are some biting satirical gems unloaded. 

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The half referring to his raucous interplay with viewers members is an artwork kind unto itself, traditional improv taken to a different stage. Each night time is a problem, as a result of he by no means is aware of the background of these he targets/taunts. It’s one thing akin to strolling a tightrope. It may be tough. It might get hostile, however miraculously, it nearly by no means does.  

It’s this banter with the viewers that’s typically probably the most anticipated side of his act. It’s nearly harking back to the late Don Rickles, who additionally acquired away with cruel pot-shots at crowds and celebs like Frank Sinatra — not usually inclined to show the opposite cheek when mocked in entrance of an viewers. 

The distinction, although, is that Sugar Sammy can be making social, political and cultural commentary. He might present indicators of agitation, however his supply is rarely indignant. 

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He takes delight — hilariously so — in being the last word outsider, who sees the world from the margins. He takes on governments and laws — hiya, Payments 21 and 96 — and establishments and all comers, and cares not a whit what penalties would possibly come his means.  

He has determined that it now not pays to play it protected on stage. He feels that comedy has been held hostage far too lengthy. And if he upsets the powers-that-be within the leisure or enterprise worlds, he counsels them to cancel him. 

“So, no grocery store commercials or lame sitcoms for me in Quebec? No massive deal, I’ll go to France or to Alberta, or simply get out of this enterprise altogether,” a grinning Sugar Sammy relayed to the viewers on the present I caught. 

“I’ve been warned by many different comics to be careful, to keep away from crossing the road. However, actually, isn’t that the entire level?”

It’s.

You’re Gonna Rire 2 schedule and tickets: sugarsammy.com. 

bbrownstein@postmedia.com