Show Review - Pass The Hat

 The Exchange

Pass The Hat is the longest-running local comedy show, held at The Exchange. The reason for its name is that in the early days, it used to be a “pay what you can” event, and a hat would be passed around near the end of the show. This is my first time attending Pass The Hat.

David Carnegie is hosting the show this evening. In between sets, he jokes about the scooters, the Titan, and about me taking notes for this review. I think David is doing a great job at hosting, despite the two minor incidents.

First up is Josh Fleming. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen Josh as I’ve attended other comedy events in the city. His routine is close to the same thing I’ve heard before, along with a couple of new jokes. Josh mainly makes jokes about his tattoos and how pointless they are. The agreeing voice in the crowd makes it funnier.

Second up is Tony Bauche. I’ve also seen him before, I think mainly at open mics though. His routine is pretty much the same thing I’ve heard from him before, though there is a new joke about flat earthers vs the matrix.

Newcomer, Ramosa Lundy is up next. I enjoy the purposefully awkward act; it plays into her jokes about being in high school and relationships.

Next up is touring comedian Johnny Pogo. He is from Calgary and doing a couple of shows in Regina, including one at The Cure. It’s not long before Johnny has everyone laughing hard. I couldn’t breathe.

While David is introducing the next comedian, he notices that I’m taking notes. He asks why, and I refuse to tell him.

When the next comedian, Genevieve Robinson, comes on stage, the first thing she notices is David wasn’t kidding about me taking notes. She advises me against using the jokes in my own routine because they suck. Other than that, Genevieve jokes about the failed Experience Regina campaign.

Up next is Nicholas Fuzesy. His routine is mainly about smoking vs. vaping and how empty he feels without a world map on his wall.

Scene veteran, Paula Grassing is next. As she starts her routine, an alarm goes off. Since security doesn’t seem concerned, neither does the audience. Paula makes jokes about being middle-aged and about how weird it is to keep fish as pets because they are a decoration.

Dane Emery makes a surprise appearance. He jokes about how no one seemed worried about the alarm. I’m told later that it was a motion detector, not a fire alarm.

Things take an uncomfortable turn at this point. Shawn Koch is next, but he doesn’t do a comedy routine. Shawn talks about the unjust events that occurred in the city in the last few days. People in the audience start arguing with him as David directs him off stage.

I have to say David and the final two comedians do a great job dealing with the situation, even though Shawn just sucked all the energy out of the room.

Jane Vee is up next. Her routine is mainly about pregnancy. Also about how her family assumed she is gay when she isn’t.

The headliner is Rory McCorriston. His routine includes jokes about how the Just Bins page on social media is anything but bins, the Robin Williams Experience show at the Casino, how his parents worried about him as a child because he liked Sailor Moon, along with a few other things.

I had a great time, and I’m glad I could finally attend Pass The Hat. Despite the complications, I’m glad the evening is still enjoyable. I look forward to attending another one in the future