Chemainus Comedy Club is back for the last laugh with one more night of comedy before they take a break for the summer, and they are going out with a bang as they present Syd Bosel.
The show takes place at the Chemainus Legion on May 22 at 7 p.m.
Bosel has been featured on Canada’s Got Talent, Just for Laughs Vancouver, and CBC's The Debaters. Bosel takes the stage following Katie-Ellen Humphries who is fresh off the taping of her brand new comedy special, Tall Tales.
"I was delighted to be invited to perform in Chemainus. I particularly am always pleased to work with Katie, whom I've known for most of my comedy career," said Bosel. "I consider her to be a mentor and a friend, and she is a great comedian."
"We knew from the very beginning that we wanted Syd to perform at Chemainus Comedy Club," said organizer Morgan Brayton. "She’s so funny and relatable, her jokes are solid, and she’s just likeable as all get out. I mean, the woman is a star. Closing out our season with a headliner who lives right here on Vancouver Island feels pretty great."
This Canadian award-winning comedian has also been heard on CBC's Laugh Out Loud, and seen headlining live with Jokers Canada and Hot Flash Comedy. She was the 2024 winner of Yuk Yuk’s BC’s Yuk Off Competition. Bosel, who has been doing comedy since 2015, is still riding the high from knocking them dead on the Winnipeg Comedy Festival stage.
"Being on the Winnipeg Comedy Festival was a dream come true. That and being on CBC's The Debaters were my two biggest goals in comedy and I reached both of them this year," said Bosel. "I was so nervous when I was about to go on stage that I thought I was going to throw up. Other than that everything about it was great — the crew, directors and volunteers were truly phenomenal, very kind and super organized."
Bosel has been known for bringing the house down as she tells tales of her adult children, a thousand years of marriage, surviving breast cancer, menopause as well as other glories of nature. She now lives in Comox.
"What first led me to start doing stand-up, was surviving the treatment for breast cancer," said Bosel. "I thought I'd better start doing stuff that I've been wanting to do, my kids were out of the house and I could do whatever I wanted. Stand-up is a fine-tuned art form that one can always improve on. I love creating nuances in my delivery that make my performance even funnier. Stand-up comedy is an unusual occupation, so I think we kind of stick together. Most of my colleagues are much younger than me, and I love being around such motivated, creative and hard-working people. They inspire me to always do better."
With the valley brimming with happenings throughout the summer, Brayton felt it made the most sense to bring on the laughs during the off season, and is already looking forward to regrouping, and mapping out what the next full season will look like, including lining up sponsors and designing merchandise. An announcement for the new season will be made in the coming months.
"I truly can’t wait to share some of the funniest people I know with Chemainus and beyond," said Brayton. "These shows have been an incredible community building experience. Friendships have been made, laughs and popcorn have been shared, all in a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere."
The show on May 22, is geared for those 16 and older and there will be a cash bar. Tickets are $25, and can be purchased at jumpcomedy.com, and at Doc the Barber in Chemainus, or at the door which opens at 6:30 p.m.
"I hope folks leave the show feeling like they’re part of something, and like they belong to this super fun club, "said Brayton. "That’s what great live comedy can do. I really believe laughter is a form of resistance against the daily onslaught that tries to wear us down. In hard times, it’s more important than ever to come together and build resilience as a community. As the saying goes — the community that laughs together lasts together."
"It's an absolute privilege, thrill and delight to have the opportunity to make people laugh, and watch them having fun," said Bosel. "I also really appreciate it when people come up to me after the show and tell me how much fun they had, that they needed a laugh, and that my material was so relatable for them. I hope the audience will just come, relax and have a laugh. It will be an easy, enjoyable evening."
