On a Friday night, The Terminus Hotel in Abbotsford is a hive of activity. Many punters fill it’s labyrinth of rooms enjoying a beverage from the bar or dining at the bistro. If you search hard enough, you can also be entertained at Get Up, Stand Up, the weekly comedy room run by Adam and Richard McKenzie. To aid you in your quest for laughs, the brothers McKenzie have placed some signs to guide the way.
For the winter season of GUSU, the room has moved from it’s Summer Beach House surroundings of Fred’s Shed in the rooftop beer garden. The show takes place in the cosy confines of the upstairs theatrette, the home of various Fringe performances over the years. Bench seating and tables are arranged along it’s length with a central aisle and a floor level performance area at the front. A raised area at the rear of the room is usually occupied by performers and various latecomers who are not brave enough to sit in the front row. Bright spotlights illuminate the “stage” as well as pockets of the audience, as one unfortunate lady discovered when she became the focus of several performers one evening. The McKenzie brothers have even added a personal touch to the room by hanging blown up images of legendary comics who have since passed on. Andy Kaufman, John Belushi, Richard Prior and John Candy look down upon the room as comic deities in a church of mirth.
The evening’s entertainment is organised into two brackets with a ten minute break in between. The first comprises of two comedians performing fifteen minute sets while the second contains a longer set by the headliner. The MacKenzies act as tag team MCs, each handling compere duties for separate brackets. The boys treat the audience to their greatest hits as well as the occasional improvised piece of comedy gold. The acts appearing at GUSU are hand picked by the brothers to ensure the punters are kept laughing.
Everything wraps up before ten, leaving you plenty of time to partake in other Friday night activities. You can spend the remainder of your evening downstairs at the bar where a DJ spins the tunes until the early hours or head someplace else. Old buggers such as myself will usually head home for some much needed beauty sleep.
If you need a laugh after a tough week at work or a couple of hours of entertainment before hitting the clubs, Get Up Stand Up is the perfect choice. If for some reason you don’t get your fill of laughs, you can have a giggle at the cow statues in the furniture store’s yard across the street!
Get Up Stand Up is on every Friday at the Terminus Hotel (605 Victoria St, Abbotsford). The show starts at around 8 and entry is free.