Park City roots no joke

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This article was published 16/04/2018 (2963 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s been nearly 40 years since Kenny Robinson left Winnipeg to pursue life as a stand-up comedian. But Robinson, who returns to the Winnipeg Comedy Festival April 11 to 14, is proud of his roots.

“It’s always funny when I talk to Winnipeg guys,” said Robinson, who was born in Chicago, Ill., but moved to Transcona as a child. “My Winnipeg’s a little different than their Winnipeg. My background’s a little more colourful than others.”

An admitted cut-up and class clown when he attended Transcona Collegiate Institute in the 1970s, Robinson — who has called Toronto home since the early 1980s — said he never really took pursuing comedy seriously until he discovered Richard Pryor as a student at the University of Winnipeg in 1976.

“I’d had some run ins with bikers, and the N-word was being thrown around,” Robinson recalled. “That cut me pretty deep. I hadn’t had any heavy racial problems until then. When I discovered Richard Pryor, that connected with me.

“My life’s been a waste since then,” Robinson joked.

From his early days cutting his teeth onstage Saturday afternoons at the Royal Albert Arms or the odd opening spot at the Viscount Gort, Robinson has carved out a career for himself as a well-respected comedian and actor internationally.

This year marks Robinson’s third time at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, and the first time he brings his Nubian Disciples of Comedy show to Winnipeg. The show took place on Wed., April 11 at the Club Regent Event Centre at 7 p.m. 

“When we started it, 24 years ago, there were maybe only three comics of colour in the country,” Robinson said.

Since then, the show has become a mainstay of the Toronto scene. Along with Robinson, the show on April 11 featured Dana Alexander, Mikey Dubs, Eman El-Husseini, Darryl Lenox, Paul Rabliauskas, Sterling Scott, and T’ai Pu.

“I think it’s something Winnipeg has never seen before,” Robinson said. “Some might call it an ‘urban show,’ but funny is funny. It’s second to nobody.”

Robinson also be took part in three other shows when he’s back in Winnipeg: Your Hood’s A Joke on Thurs., April 12, Bruce Clark’s We Gotta Talk Show on Fri., April 13, and The Dirty Show on Sat., April 14.

“Your Hood’s a Joke is basically a roast battle,” Robinson explained. “Before, I’ve represented Winnipeg against other cities. This time, I’ll be representing Transcona, Flamingo City, and I’m up against someone from Tuxedo. That’s something I’ll be looking forward to.”

For more information, or to buy tickets for the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, visit www.winnipegcomedyfestival.com