Two Kids, One Hall Toronto

Two Kids, One Hall gets big laughs at SketchFest 2011

They may have made several cracks about aging, but Kids In The Hall veterans Scott Thompson and Kevin McDonald seemed as youthful as ever in last night's headlining performance of Two Kids, One Hall at the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival. Playing to an appreciative hometown crowd at the Lower Ossington Theatre, the sketch comedy legends showed off some serious stand-up chops and proved that neither has any trouble flying solo.

Thompson's two stand-up sets were ruthlessly funny and at times, shockingly blue; the man clearly has no qualms about discussing his sex life, and waxed poetic about everything from a recent threesome to his fondness for uncircumcised genitalia. He also discussed his recent struggles with non-Hodgkins lymphoma — and, believe it or not, a breast cancer scare — without ever verging anywhere sentimentality or self-pity.

McDonald, a self-proclaimed "coward baby," cranked up his awkward, lovable persona to eleven, showing off his array of "weird faces I can make," singing about the joys of being passive-aggressive and explaining his dilemma over whether to brush his curly hair with a regular comb or an afro pick. The surprise highlight of the night came when he accidentally broke the microphone stand — he and Thompson cracked each other up as they helplessly flailed about the stage trying to fix it.

The duo made only passing references to their KITH days. "I don't remember much," McDonald quipped, "But I seem to remember there were nine of us and we had a radio show in the thirties." The audience did, however, seem to agree that both were more than capable of holding their own, and when they joined forces for an ending sketch it was clear that the old chemistry was still there.

Two Kids, One Hall surpassed the expectations of even this die-hard Kids fan, my only disappointment being that more time wasn't given to showcase McDonald's considerable gifts as a physical comedian. It was great to see them back in action, and even better to see them having such a blast.


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