Finishing the conversation
A chance meeting with Ron James that starts at the Toronto airport concludes in Charlottetown with an interview about his Nov. 16-17 shows
When I was on a layover at the Toronto airport a couple of weeks ago, I saw Ron James rushing to catch his plane.
I had just gotten off a moving sidewalk and, realizing that I had no time to stop for dinner, I was huffing and puffing my way to the gate when I noticed the recognizable man, with blue eyes and graying hair, doing the very same thing.
Having been a fan of the comedian, both on stage and on television, I quickly shouted out that I liked his work and was looking for seeing him on Prince Edward Island the next time he came through.
James smiled and waved back and joked about the challenges of his job – continuous travel across the country.
“Sometimes I feel more comfortable in my Air Canada seat than I do in my own couch,” he retorted.
Turns out that “next time” meant very, very soon – as Terry McRae of Shantero productions called and asked if I were interested in talking to the funny man this week about his P.E.I. shows at the Harbourfront Theatre in Summerside on Nov. 16 and the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown on Nov. 17.
I was delighted because it would give me the chance to finish that airport conversation, which has the distinct feeling of two ships passing through the night.
James said it’s been two years since he’s been on P.E.I. And, in that time, a great deal has happened in his personal life.
“I lost my dad, the summer before last. I turned 60 and CBC cancelled my New Year’s specials,” James said Wednesday when we connected by phone.
That’s too bad, considering the show, which had drawn 1.5 million viewers three years in a row, had become a New Year’s Eve staple across the country.
Known for his buoyancy, James didn’t stay sad for long. Embracing the changes, he “upped the ante” with his touring, performing 11 dates last year.
“It was fantastic and a great winter for driving.”
Then, this past summer, he went back home to Nova Scotia, after buying a little house by the sea.
“The prodigal son returns,” says James.
And, over the course of two months he took the time he needed to relax and refocus his life.
“I turned off Facebook, unplugged and spent my time looking at eagles in the sky, deer in the meadow, catching mackerel and just hanging out. You feel like you’re 11 years old again and you want to tuck into a baloney sandwich with mustard and Mountain Dew.”
This fall, James’ high-energy and poetic comedy have returned as he once again crisscrosses the country, creating laughs on his Canadian tour.
“I’m excited about getting a chance to play at the Confederation Centre (and) up the road in Summerside, just an hour’s drive away, where there’s a different vibe.”
And along the way, he’ll enjoy the various side benefits – visiting friends in Montague and feasting on seafood.
“I’ll be putting my cholesterol (level) through the roof with my oyster consumption at Murphy’s,” says James, with a laugh.
Sally Cole is an entertainment writer with The Guardian. She welcomes comments about her column as well as suggestions for future columns from readers. She may be reached at sally.cole@theguardian.pe.ca or by phone at 902-629-6000, ext. 6054.