The line between humour and rage often rests on a knife’s edge.
No one embodies this truth more readily than Mary Walsh, a stalwart of the Canadian sketch comedy circuit who brings her one-woman show Dancing With Rage to Metro Studio Feb. 19.
Perhaps most recognized for her Newfie-infused satire on the long-running CBC series This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Walsh incorporates many of the characters she has played over the years into the show, including the infamous warrior princess Marg Delahunty, Dakey Dunn, Mom Reardon and Tim Horton’s loiterer and close-camera gossip Connie Bloor.
Dancing with Rage follows several stories, from a blind woman who regains her eyesight to a mother travelling the country in search of her lost child.
Throughout the show, Walsh embodies her classic and emerging characters in seasoned fashion to illustrate the rage brought on by modern politics, capitalism and pop culture.
In her 25-year comedy career, Walsh has received 25 Gemini Awards as well as the Governor General’s lifetime achievement award.
In her years with 22 Minutes, she made news headlines by humanizing and humiliating stiff politicians outside Parliament and by ambushing press conferences, all with an endearing east-coast accent and cheekiness.
In 2011, Walsh made national headlines for knocking on the door of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, who promptly called police and attempted to have her arrested for trespassing.
Walsh comes to Victoria for one night only, fresh off a two-week run at Vancouver’s Firehall Arts Centre.
She performs in support of Metro Studio’s Raise the Roof campaign, where partial proceeds will go to installing air conditioning in the theatre.
“It’s really exciting Mary is launching (our campaign),” said Heather Lindsay, general manager at Intrepid Theatre.
In partnership with the Victoria Conservatory of Music, Intrepid will be putting a new roof on the studio and upgrading it to a theatre in 2013.
“The most exciting and relatable thing is the air conditioning, because I think our audience members can really relate to that, “ Lindsay said. “Most of them have been in a hot room with us at some point.”
Tickets are $100, but $50 will go directly to the fundraising campaign and will include a $50 charitable tax receipt, she said.
Find tickets at ticketrocket.org or by calling 250-590-6291.