Russell Brand Keeps Calgary in Stitches

Russell Brand stirs up laughs for a good cause.

British stand-up comedian Russell Brand paid a visit to the Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary this week in support of the Owen Hart Foundation.

Performing to a nearly sold-out show, Brand’s behaviour onstage is very similar to the characters he’s played in R-rated flicks such as Get Him to the Greek and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. His British wit, combined with an animated delivery, made for an amusing night. Brand made several jokes that were both shocking and funny, again like his movie characters.
 
Brand also takes much joy in mocking the current media. He brought on stage with him copies of the Metro and Fast Forward Weekly (newspapers which are freely available around Calgary) as well as a ridiculously far-fetched story from a British tabloid magazine. The story in question outlined his supposed affair with Cindy Crawford and Sharon Stone while his wife Katy Perry was touring in Brazil. Brand mocked this story mercilessly, while making fun of himself at the same time.
 
Brand kept the crowd in stitches - and sometimes, pure shock! His stage presence was engaging, and frequent interactions with the audience were the markings of a seasoned performer. He even prank called a woman’s parents during the show, holding her phone to the microphone so the audience could hear.
 
Brand later met fans in the lobby for autographs and photos. He ascended the escalator in a God-like fashion, shaking hands and keeping a very nice, approachable air about him - a surprising contrast between who he is on and off the stage.
 
Overall, the night was entertaining and fun. Brand’s sense of humour may not be for everybody, but his outrageous show left many (including me) smiling from ear to ear.