Jean-Marc Parent, a favorite storyteller of many Quebecers, has done it again with a river show lasting more than 3 hours for the twelfth edition of “L’Event JMP”.
From the get-go, the 61-year-old comedian took to the stage as if in his slippers (or his “gogounes,” which will be widely talked about) to make him comfortable. A master of crowdworking, he wasted no time in teaming up with his audience, who quickly returned the ball to him.
On his show, he complained about his wounds and his hypochondria, to the delight of the audience. And with good reason: who else can tell us about their strange itching and their impromptu visit to their doctor at home after midnight?
Jean-Marc Parent MARIO BEAUREGARD/QMI AGENCY MARIO BEAUREGARD/QMI AGENCY
Here, too, the public is invited to participate extensively. However, his multiple interventions had the effect of breaking the rhythm right on the people in the front rows, because we couldn’t bad hear their interventions from the back of the room.
What could have been a great exercise in complicity with the singer Nadja left a little unease. The comedian constantly brandished the names of songs that the performer didn’t know. If she made it later that night with Dolly Parton’s Jolene, she’d have trouble with Minuit Chrétien – which she recorded anyway – or AC/DC’s Thunderstruck.
Also invited, comedian Eddy King presented an effective number about his presence on Big Brother celebrities: “I was all alone with 15 white people… I heard conversations so… white!” The audience received him very well and it was deserved.
speed drop
When Jean-Marc Parent returned to the stage, we felt a slight loss of energy in the performance. This is undoubtedly why he devoted himself to the show’s highlight: his famous expedition during the Florida floods last April.
When this mishap became known through an interview with the Journal and its dissemination on social networks, the number increased the whole comedy. Let’s remember the anecdote. The unpredictable weather meant that he was at Fort Lauderdale airport in his large Jeep Wagoneer (the dealer who had “lent” him the vehicle was at the show), which he had to leave due to severe flooding. An instant classic.
• Also read: Jean-Marc Parent had to swim through snakes after seeing his car sink in a Florida storm
When the clock struck 10 p.m., the show could have ended on a high with that story. It’s a comedian misunderstanding.
an hour too long
Then the hour began too much. Every time Jean-Marc Parent worried a little about the evening dragging on, he tested the audience to see what they wanted. Of course, every time he demanded that the show drag on.
A few members of the comedy team were then entitled to their moment of fame. The comedian took turns challenging them to sing something. As if the experienced storyteller no longer knew how to end his show.
Jean-Marc Parent MARIO BEAUREGARD/QMI AGENCY
In the end, he settled for a vague thank you to his loyal fans. Half of the crowd danced to the DJ’s beats while the other half stormed out. Momentum had also disappeared from the scene.
In short, Jean-Marc Parent satisfied his fans by giving them a great night, but he would have served them even better by stopping the JMP machine a little sooner.
♦ Jean-Marc Parent offers another account of JMP event Sunday at 8 p.m. at the Place des Arts in Montreal.
♦ For info: hahaha.com