A whole village of stars on Second City stage
Fundraiser for Jake Thomas, nephew of alum Dave Thomas, touted as ‘loose, fun party’
How many famous Canadian performers can you fit on the mainstage of the Second City theatre on Peter Street? Anyone lucky enough to have tickets to the sold-out “Take off, Eh! All-Star Benefit” on Tuesday is going to find out.
The star-studded fundraiser in support of Jake Thomas and Spinal Cord Injury Ontario is billed as “a Bob & Doug McKenzie live reunion show” starring Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas.
Following the tragic snowmobile accident suffered by the comedy icon’s nephew, Jake, that left him paraplegic, the idea for the show took shape during a conversation between Hamilton natives Thomas and good friend Martin Short, who is also hosting the show.
“Martin led the charge,” Thomas told the Star from his home in Los Angeles, adding that after a few phone calls to close friends, the impressive lineup of talent was assembled.
In addition to his hosting duties, Short plans to perform as Jiminy Glick interviewing a surprise celebrity guest, as well as working with Saturday Night Live and Late Night with David Letterman veteran Paul Shaffer and other stars who got their start in Toronto. “It’s going to be a loose, fun party,” promises Short from his cottage in Muskoka. “It is the home of improv, so you tend to be a little looser than you would be if you were at Massey Hall or something.”
Along with Short, SCTValumni Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara will team up with each other as well as other performers including Dan Aykroyd; Shaffer’s musical stylings throughout the evening will include accompanying on the clavinet while Dave’s brother Ian Thomas plays his ’70s hit, “Painted Ladies.” Rounding out the musical performances will be Murray McLauchlan and a few other special guests.
Fans of the critically acclaimed Canadian comedy troupe Women Fully Clothed will be treated to a performance featuring Robin Duke and Kathy Greenwood along with O’Hara, and The Kids in the Hall enthusiasts can look forward to sketches from Dave Foley, Scott Thompson and Kevin McDonald involving audience participation.
While Thomas says that “everyone is working on self-contained, scripted bits,” Bob and Doug will reprise their classic improv comedy in segments throughout the evening. The enduring Canadian franchise was spawned from a mild act of rebellion by Moranis and Thomas in response to a network mandate for more specifically Canadian content, and as soon as Moranis learned of the fundraising effort for Jake, he readily agreed to put on his toque and parka for the first time in 10 years in support of the cause.
When asked if his original vision for the show resembles the all-star gala benefit into which it has blossomed, Short replies, “what happens in these nights always is that one’s good friends show up. And knowing this group and knowing who would show up — which is everybody asked — I had a feeling this show would be what it is. It’s kind of spectacular.”