“The JMP event” at Just for Laughs: here is what we thought of the show of more than three hours by Jean-Marc Parent

A favorite storyteller of many Quebecers, Jean-Marc Parent did it again with a river show lasting more than three hours for the twelfth edition of The JMP event.

From the outset, the 61-year-old comedian arrived on stage as if in his slippers (or his flip-flops, which will be discussed a lot) he is so comfortable. Master of crowdworkinghe wasted no time and teamed up with his audience, who wasted no time in throwing the ball back to him.

In his show, he complained about his sores, his hypochondria to the delight of the crowd. And for good reason, who else can tell us about his dodgy itch and his impromptu visit to his doctor’s home past midnight?

Here again, the public is invited to participate fully. However, his multiple point-blank interventions with people in the front rows had the effect of breaking the rhythm because, from the back of the room, we could hardly hear their interventions.

What could have been a great exercise in complicity with the singer Nadja has rather let out some discomfort. The comedian swung all the time the names of songs that the interpreter did not know. If she made do with it Jolene of Dolly Parton later that evening, she had a run-in with Midnight Christian – which she nevertheless recorded – or Thunderstruck of AC/DC.

The humorist Eddy King, also invited, came to present an effective number in which it was a question of his presence at Big Brother Celebrities : “I was alone with 15 white people… I heard such… white conversations!” The crowd welcomed him very well and it was deserved.

Drop in speed

When Jean-Marc Parent returned to the stage, we felt a slight drop in energy in the delivery. This is undoubtedly why he tackled the highlight of the show: his famous expedition during the floods in Florida last April.

If this misadventure was known via an interview at Log and its distribution on social networks, the number has enhanced all the comedy. Let us recall the anecdote. The vagaries of the weather meant that he found himself at the Fort Lauderdale airport with his big Jeep Wagoneer (the dealer who “loaned” him the vehicle was attending the show) which he had to abandon due to heavy flooding. An instant classic.

• Read also: Jean-Marc Parent had to swim through snakes after seeing his car sink in a Florida storm

As 10 p.m. struck, the show could have ended on a high note with this story. It’s misunderstanding the comedian.

an hour too long

Then began the hour too many. Each time Jean-Marc Parent worried a little bit that the evening was dragging on, he would test the public to find out what they wanted. Of course, every time, he demanded that the show drag on.

Some members of the comedian’s team were then entitled to their moment of glory. The comedian challenged them in turn to sing something. As if the seasoned storyteller no longer knew how to end his show.

At the very end, he settled for a vague thank you to his loyal fans. Half the crowd danced to the beats of the DJ as the other half rushed out. The momentum had also left the scene.

In short, Jean-Marc Parent satisfied his fans by allowing them to spend a great evening, but he would have served them even better by stopping the JMP machine a little earlier.

♦ Jean-Marc Parent offers another representation of The JMP event Sunday at 8 p.m. at Place des Arts in Montreal.

♦ For info: hahaha.com