This Week in Toronto: LOL in the North Comedy Show

            Laugh-hungry audience members trekked in the snow to get to Toronto’s John Bassett theatre Saturday night for the LOL in the North comedy show. Headliner Faizon Love, alongside comedians Capone, Jay Martin, Trixx, Rip Michaels and up and coming Aaron Lewin performed in front of an audience of almost 1,000 people.

            Lewin began the show by warming them up with some hearty laughs. His natural ability to grace the stage with comfort and a comedic response for everything got the crowd in the mood for the rest of the performers. His performance included him removing some clothes, all except his boxers.

            While the move was gutsy, comedian Trixx agrees that taking risks is necessary to be a good comedian.

            “If you don’t take risks, you get too comfortable,” Trixx said during a pre-show interview. “If you’ve never taken risks, bombed a show or been booed, you never go home and think ‘what do I need to work on’?”

            This was Lewin’s second time at the John Bassett theatre. He enjoys performing there because it forces him to be a creative and comedic centerpiece for the 1,300-seat venue.

            Before shows, Lewin spends time in his dressing room looking in the mirror, dong push-ups, and mentally preparing himself for his skit. With a list of words penned into his left hand as just-in-case-cues, he takes on the tremendous responsibility of setting the stage for both himself and the performers after.

            When Jay Martin announced to Lewin that there was a switch in the order, he handled it with grace.

            “You’re up first, rooks,” Martin said to Lewin backstage shortly before showtime. “First, first.”

            The same ease and grace that Lewin had in this instance was brought with him to the stage. His routine included racial jokes, what it’s like being the only black guy in his suburb town of Richmond Hill, Bill Cosby’s news headlines, and of course, the difference between a white man and a black man approaching a girl in the club.

            The crowd enjoyed Lewin, as most of his audiences do. He meets the difficulty of stand-up with an impressive calm, one that forces the audience to feel calm, too, in between laughter of course.

            Lewin’s next shows are set for February 15^th, 22^nd and 26^th.    

        

Canada's Next Best Comedian: Aaron Lewin

Aaron Kadeem Lewin was born and raised in Richmond Hill. At the age of 18, long after he realized a passion in comedy, he pursued it. He began doing stand-up comedy after his friends constantly pushed him to make a career out of being the class clown.

During his first year of university, he produced his own show. Since then, he has gone on to perform in New York and throughout venues across Ontario.

Lewin has had the pleasure of performing with Spoken Reasons, Brandon T. Jackson, Capone and Faizon Love. He guest hosted the late night talk show Late Night With Michael Charbon, the Gemini award-winning executive producer from Rogers TV. From basement bars to the 1,300 seat John Bassett Theatre, Lewin doesn’t turn away a venue.

Lewin describes comedy as his own special way of expressing himself.

“It allows me to be a bright light in the darkest of rooms,” he says. “I want to be able to get my name out there because I feel I’m as talented and funny as any comic.”

Lewin’s comedy is hugely anecdotal. It’s based on the simple fact that he grew up being the only black guy in his community.

Some of Lewin’s biggest inspirations have been Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock. He studies their performances like textbooks.

“I try to pick them apart, see what I can use,” Lewin says. “For example, Chris Rock taught me to always move on the stage, never stand still. That way, the audience doesn’t get an opportunity to look away from you.”

His goal? To be the funniest Canadian stand up comedian ever. Aware of the obstacles, he believes it’s still possible. He hopes to perform at the Just For Laughs festival held in Montreal.

“It would be a huge stepping stone for me,” Lewin says.

This Saturday, Lewin will be taking the stage at the John Bassett theatre. He is set to hit the stage to amaze the audience with his witty and charming personality. He’s looking forward to wowing his favorite group of people-Torontonians.