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Comedy Culture

Monkey Toast

MONKEY TOAST: THE IMPROVISED TALK SHOW hosted by Ron Tite, with guests John Catucci, Mike Layton and Marnie McBean. Saturday (March 10), 8 pm, at the Comedy Bar (945 Bloor West). $10. 416-551-6540.

Monkey Toast, the improvised talk show created by Second City alum David Shore, has been off the local comedy menu since 2010, when Shore up and moved to the UK. But now it’s starting up again with a new host, stand-up Ron Tite. The revamped show debuts tonight at the Comedy Bar.

“I’m going to bring my stand-up brain to the hosting,” says Tite, who was a frequent guest on Shore’s show. “There’ll be a bit more of an opening monologue, and I’ll be interacting with the guests in a different way. Dave was great. But our personalities are different.”

The inaugural guests include John Catucci, a sketch comic and host of the Food Network program You Gotta Eat Here!, Toronto councillor Mike Layton and gold medal-winning rower Marnie McBean.

As with the old version, Tite will interview the guests and draw out stories that will then be riffed on by a crack team of rotating improvisers, who include Colin Mochrie, Lisa Merchant, Kerry Griffin, Jan Caruana, Aurora Browne, Lauren Ash and Naomi Snieckus.

Tite, who’s got a parallel career in advertising and marketing (Marketing Magazine recently named him one of the “Top 10 Creative Canadians”), is used to making guests feel comfortable.

“I know how to pull the best stuff from people,” he says. “I know I’m not supposed to be the funny one. I can add humour, obviously, but the focus isn’t on me. It’s on the improvisers. I try to give them the volley that they can spike.”

Nice metaphor. And to continue it, those comics will definitely score points.

“They’re amazing,” he says. “Really, I have a front row seat to some of the best comedy in the country.”

Shore is happy with Tite taking over the local hosting reins he himself is starting up a version of Monkey Toast London.

“So if someone’s traveling to either place, they can join the cast,” says Tite.

And how does he feel about giving up his Saturday nights? (Actually, just the second Saturday of every month.)

“I have no concerns,” he laughs. “My girlfriend may have a couple, though. Guess what we’re doing on Saturday?’ But I do so much corporate speaking, it’s a really nice change of pace.”

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