Just for Laughs New Faces

at
Share This Post

New faces at JFL is a very big deal it is a massive showcase for the entire industry.

Inside one of Canadas most historic theatres, the swirling stairs up to the balcony brim and boil with people from all parts of the industry proud managers play coy as they are congratulated by sometimes smug colleagues on their prized comic making it. Teams chase after their leader– cells phones and programs in tow. Because killing at New Faces can be a real career starter.

I had subjected myself to what goes on in that theatre exactly once. I opted for the encore of the second group– a decidedly more chill affair.

Meant to test the skill of the comics in a club setting The New faces encore is held at Le Balcon a church converted into a cabaret. Hosted by Gianmarco Soresi who very much understood the assignment, he warmed the crowd up he introduced each comic with thoughtful details and correct names. That means a lot to these comics who are at the festival for the first time.

A few thoughts on the performances:

Saul Trujillo- I was super stoked on this comic 5 seconds into his act. Incredibly chill focused delivery with a clear POV just a homie from Stockton. Bits on mullets, misgendering and how sneaker heads are dumb was the essence of punching up the kind of writing that was very clever but appeared natural.

Leslie Liao– Loved this comic and you should probably hire her to write your meet cute. Very intelligent, deep, honest, vulnerable material about love dating and pressures and feelings of othersness I sincerely hope it’s sooner rather than
later that we see a special by Liao as I certainly was left so very curious about this comic.

Chike Robinson- Was highly entertaining. Goofy but in control he took the stage with high key calling out some bull shit energy about life in flint Michigan– hilarious yelling climaxing in bonkers premises on weird fights and the street fashion of the black lives matter protests.

Kelly Ryan is the kind of comic America needs right now. The sort of comic who feels just as important as any musician. A focused brazen truth teller. She has went bullet and did not shy away from hard topics sexism, abortion, drugs and whiskey I asked her at a party where she was from she said Texas and Connecticut and who wants to know. She also opened for Anthony Jesenik one of the most high profile shows of the festival.

I encourage you to look up all the new faces of 2023 they all have made that list for a reason and it’s something uniquely JFL to see them all together.

Read more comedy news.

The following two tabs change content below.

Marty Younge

Latest posts by Marty Younge (see all)

Marty Younge
Marty Younge