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Stand-up comic’s B.C. tour postponed

Derek Edwards is recuperating from an illness; hopes to reschedule for fall
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Derek Edwards. Submitted photo

Stand-up comedy aficionados will be disappointed to hear Derek Edwards will no longer be touring B.C. this spring.

The award winning comic was scheduled to visit the province this week (April 21), but he has unfortunately fallen ill with a non-COVID-19 illness, which is affecting his lungs.

He has cleared his schedule to focus on recovery.

According to the promoter, Terry McRae, The plan at the moment is to reschedule the shows for this fall, as there is no window of opportunity before then.

“I hope to know more about the prognosis next week, and hope, for the sake of Derek and his family, it isn’t anything long term,” he said.

Edwards was going to perform his new 90-minute special, “In Praise of the Ostrich.”

The easy-going comic, who has been honing his craft for three decades is a favourite of Canadian audiences.

Original story below:

Derek Edwards is kind of like your funniest friend.

The stand-up comic is super easy going, and chuckles along as he’s telling joke-after-joke. His affable personality makes you want to root for him, and crowds have for three decades.

His first tour of British Columbia since BC (before COVID-19) will start on April 21 in Chilliwack.

Edwards said he hopes the audience will wear masks, so he won’t be able to tell that they’re not smiling as he shakes off the rust from not having performed as often over the last two years.

“I’d really like a courteous and forgiving crowd as I get started out,” he jokes.

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“In Praise of the Ostrich’ is Edwards’ new 90-minute special.

Inspiration for the many jokes came just as regularly, even though he wasn’t out-and-about as much as he was used to.

“I could be inside watching Netflix, or whatever’s on the tube, and I’ll go –Ohhhh, that’s a great idea for a joke,” he said.

“I could be retired for 20 years, and will still see something that will cause a knee jerk reaction to write something down.”

Audience members can expect commentary on the influx of pot stores, self-driving cars, gambling tips, the challenge of staying youthful, and dressing warmly.

The tour will also take Edwards to North Vancouver (April 22), Vernon (April 24), and Kelowna, (April 25), before crossing the Georgia Strait for shows in Nanaimo (April 27), Courtenay (April 28), Campbell River (April 29), Duncan (April 30), and a finale in Victoria (May 2).

“It’s therapeutic for me to be working again,” he said. “So with therapeutic goodness on my end, and positive energy from the crowd that maybe haven’t had a night out in a while, I’m hoping its going to hit that crucial mass and kick it over the edge.”



ronan.odoherty@campbellrivermirror.com

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