Something to laugh about
Returning to the stage after a successful liver transplant, comedian Mike MacDonald is leading the pack in 2014 Capital One Just For Laughs Comedy Tour, Nov. 7 in Charlottetown
Comedian finds humour in life’s setbacks
Considering the challenges Mike MacDonald has faced in his personal life, it’s easy to think it might be difficult for him to find things that are funny.
The Canadian standup comedian underwent a liver transplant 18 months ago. He has also dealt with bipolar disorder, depression and addictions.
But, it’s not. Instead of packing it in, the 59-year-old is using these experiences as grist for the comedy mill.
“I realized a long time ago that I needed to play the cards that I’ve been dealt. It’s the old adage; you should talk about what you know.
So, addictions, mental health, liver transplant, these are the things that I know,” says MacDonald who is part of the 2014 Capital One Just For Laughs Comedy Tour, which is touching down at the Homburg Theatre of the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.
“It’s truly a privilege for me to be (in the show that night). For those who know my back story, it’s a privilege to be anywhere right now,” says the comedy legend who will share the stage with Canadian comedian Graham Chittenden and American actors/performers Godfrey and Lynne Koplitz.
Although grateful for the life-saving operation, which was carried out by a team of doctors in Toronto, the timing wasn’t the greatest.
“It was irony, in the true sense of the word. I got my new liver on St. Paddy’s Day,” says MacDonald, with a laugh.
And, while he’s able to joke about it now, the recovery period was not a laughing matter.
“It was very traumatic because for the first six months I thought I would never do standup ever again. As a matter of fact, I couldn’t remember a word of my act after my transplant.
“Then when I finally did get back on stage, I was fortunate that about 80 per cent of the new material worked right away. And thank God for me, because that was the only stuff I could remember.
“So now my show is half new and the other half is my greatest hits.”
The experience has also re-energized his whole outlook on comedy.
“It’s weird that in the last six months I’ve gotten more standing ovations than I have in the last 35 years. So I must be doing something right or hitting a nerve.
“So, although it took a good six months to get back on stage, it was actually a blessing in disguise to start over again,” says MacDonald who wracked up dozens of performances in the two months following his recovery.
So what does the future hold for the funny man?
No big plans, really, just to continue along his comedy career path.
“I hope to do this until I drop dead of natural causes.”