“Stephen Harper said he’d be at this roast. I guess that’s another broken promise,” joked Daniel Araya, one comic on The Sunday Night Roast Show panel, while making fun of the current prime minister.
A crowd of about 50 people gathered in the upstairs room of Pour Boy on Somerset Street on the night of Sept. 27. The roast, hosted and produced by Greg Houston and Tavis Maplesden with support from Pour Boy, was their most successful so far, Houston said.
“I think this is probably the fullest it’s been, which is nice,” Houston said, noting people were interested in the political aspect, and the demographic of the crowd was young.
The Sunday Night Roast Show started in April and happens on the last Sunday of each month. April’s subject was Michael Jackson—the following months were Tom Cruise, Kanye West, Harry Potter, Taylor Swift, and now Harper for September.
Houston said though the comics attack the subject, in the end they “actually really like what that person has done, most of the time. With Harper it’s a little more politicized with comics—they’re not usually a big fan of Harper. He cuts a lot of arts budgets,” he said.
“When they did the Kanye roast it was like, ‘he does some dumb stuff, but he has redeeming qualities,’ and Stephen Harper doesn’t really, so it felt easier to laugh because it affects all of us,” said Sarah Langridge, an audience member.
“People hate a lot on Stephen Harper, but is he really that bad?” asked Josh Murray, another one of the comics. “Yes,” he answered himself.
Roman Mancini, a comic and the host of the roast, said Harper was a tricky subject to joke about.
“He’s actually tough to roast . . . Celebrities are easy because they have sex scandals and drugs and stuff. He’s a politician—he keeps his image clean,” Mancini said.
The panel of comics consisted of only men, something picked up on by a female audience member when they opened the floor after the roast.
“People put out a call for a show . . . It just so happened that the only people who wanted to do it were all male,” said Mancini. He said the pool of comics in Ottawa isn’t big.
The night also consisted of the panelists roasting each other. Houston said the Ottawa comedy scene is small, so most people know each other and are supportive.
Mancini said he thought comedy was important politically. He referenced TV shows like The Daily Show and This Hour Has 22 Minutes, which tackle serious subjects. He also said comedy was effective in talking about politics and other issues, as important points could sneak in subtly with a joke, but make somebody think.
The roast touched on issues including senator scandals, veterans, the environment, and immigration.
“Stephen Harper’s been more unwelcoming to refugees than the Mediterranean,” jabbed Mancini.
Choosing Harper as the subject of the roast was because of the upcoming election, said Houston. “At the end of the day, really I just hope that everyone in that room votes on Oct. 19,” he said.
Mancini, in his closing remarks, also encouraged the audience to vote.
“That’s the real roast for Stephen Harper,” he said.
