While the old saying claims there are no small parts (just small performers), it failed to mention anything about venues, and one comedy club in Toronto is doing their best to prove that size doesn't matter.

Confession time: I've dipped my toes into the comedy world once or twice in my time, and from open mics to improv shows, one thing — aside from my propensity to absolutely bomb — remains fairly consistent; the creativity required to transform a space into a comedy club.

Aside from the professional spots who've refined the comedy-going experience to be as absolutely palatable to mainstream consumers as possible (think Yuk Yuk's or Absolute Comedy), other comedy venues across the city tend to fly a little more under the radar for those who aren't, as we in the comedy biz say, "on the scene."

It can be all too easy, therefore, to fall into some debaucherous pit (more likely a bar basement or weird back corner at a restaurant) when you're looking for a last minute ticket to a comedy show in Toronto.

That's not to say that the comedy itself won't be good, but the absurdity of the experience could quite possibly be funnier, and when it comes to absurd comedy venues in Toronto, there's perhaps none more strange than Key's Comedy Club.

Let's start off by addressing the elephant in the room.

Key's Comedy Club exists in — quite literally — a room inside a Roncesvalles Village townhouse, adorned with a faux-brick backdrop, a smattering of folding chairs and windows covered over with black plastic bags.

But aside from what you may initially think, the house is, actually, a commercial space, also home to a vintage shop and tattoo parlour.

Just follow shoddily-crafted signs down a side alley and walk up fire escape stairs to enter the club, the capacity of which is the subject of great debate — while the club claims to seat 40 or so, reviews suggest 10 to 15 is a more likely estimate.

One reviewer details their experience at Key's Comedy Club.

Founded by Toronto comedian Kivork Kidanian, who goes by the moniker KeyEpic online, the club advertises sets from some of the top comedians working today who, collectively, have made a series of high-profile appearances at the likes of Joe Rogan's Comedy Mothership and on the Kill Tony Podcast.

That statement alone might give you an idea of the sort of comedy you can expect to find here.

In fact, Key's Comedy Club has found itself at the centre of some unwanted attention recently due to claims that it's a so-called "anti-woke" operation, a claim that Kidanian denies, due to the often edgy or controversial nature of some of his guests' material.

Despite this, Kidanian adamantly asserts that a variety of different comedy styles can be seen at the club on any given night.

Most recently, the club responded to their onslaught of recent criticism in, quite appropriately, the form of a roast, where comedian Cringe Kev takes aim at an article written for Toronto Today.

It goes without saying that Key's is perhaps one of the most grassroots operations alive on Toronto's comedy scene today and, while plenty of reviewers have taken to Google to offer less-than-stellar reviews, the club has also managed to attract a cult following of comedians and spectators alike.

One reviewer sings the praises of Key's Comedy Club.

Despite the absurdity of the entire situation, though, the club still boasts a 4.4-star rating across 290 Google Reviews, with scores of devotees singing the praises of both Kidanian and his, ahem, unique set up.

Key's Comedy Club responds to a review calling the club a "scam."

Others, though, accuse the club of being a "scam," claiming that their earnest attempt at a fun night out yielded results that were sub par at best.

Perhaps, much like comedy itself, the venue in which you enjoy it is a deeply personal preference. While I, myself, prefer to consume my comedy sans-dark alley and fire escape, there's no denying the enthusiasm of not only Key's' cult following, but his crew of regular performers.

So enthusiastic is Kidanian's audience, in fact, that he tells blogTO the club will soon be moving from the current ramshackle setup to a "100 seater bar on Danforth," which will allow for even bigger names to work their material on the Key's Comedy Club crowd.

At a time in Toronto where arts organizations of all sorts, from independent cinemas to studio spaces, face the imminent, imposing risk of shuttering due to sky-high operating costs and dwindling funding, it's more important than ever to support independent arts spaces which, yes, includes independent comedy.

If you're keen to support indie comedy in Toronto, you can also head to The Corner Comedy Club, Social Capital Theatre or Bad Dog the next time you're jonesing for a laugh, or check out the comedy shows that are held at bars like Wenona, Teddy Beer, Tallboys and The Rivoli (to name only a few) across the city almost every day of the week.

An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Key's Comedy Club was operating without a liquor license. After publication, Kidanian contacted blogTO to confirm that they, in fact, do. Subsequently, all allegations of the club operating without a liquor license have been removed from this article.