Funny Strange: Satire after Mordecai Richler

Posted: May 16, 2012 - 12:47 , by royal
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What has become of satire in Canada in the post Mordecai Richler era?

If you google Canadian humour one of the main forms of humour this country is known for is satire. Since the passing of our satiric elder statesman Mordecai Richler who but perhaps Rick Mercer has taken up the flag?

Find out what the state of satire is in this country on Thursday May 17 as New York Times raconteur Calvin Trillin dukes it out with stream of conscience absurdist Seán Cullen on the ROM stage in what could only be a LMAO night moderated by Charlie Foran.

For almost half a century, Calvin Trillin, a friend of Mordecai Richler, has been publishing brilliant New Yorker essays and books on humour, travel and food, including his recent Quite Enough of Calvin Trillin: Forty Years of Funny Stuff.

Seán Cullen has been making people laugh for more than 20 years as a touring comedian. An actor, he has appeared in such stage productions as The Producers. He also writes the popular Hamish X series for young readers.

PEN Canada president Charlie Foran, author of the multiple-award-winning biography of Richler, Mordecai: The Life and Times, moderates.

The evening is part of PEN Canada’s Ideas in Dialogue Series. PEN Canada is a nonpartisan organization of writers that works with others to defend freedom of expression as a basic human right, at home and abroad. PEN Canada promotes literature, fights censorship, helps free persecuted writers from prison, and assists writers living in exile in Canada. Turns out, in addition to all of this they also like to laugh.

Event takes place May 17, 7 p.m.  Signy and Cléophée Eaton Theatre, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park. $40