Improv duo to perform in Rosebud

Times Contributor 

 

7 Andres Improv, a two-man improv troupe, brings their unique brand of fun to Rosebud’s Thorny Rose Cafe, Nov. 18, at 8 p.m. The group is comprised of actor Tim Hildebrand, who’s performing in both of Rosebud Theatre’s shows this fall, and Leland Klassen, a well-known stand-up comedian.

Hildebrand and Klassen performed improv and stand-up comedy together all over western Canada for four years in the late 1990s, until they parted ways, Hildebrand says, “because (Klassen) really wanted to pursue stand-up, and I really wanted to pursue live theatre.”

They’re reuniting for just this evening, and Hildebrand looks forward to the reunion. 

“It’s really fun to work in front of a friendly, sober audience with another comedian that you trust that you know is funny,” he says.

“Leland is the funniest man on the planet. “He’s a very physical comedian. He really uses his body.”

Klassen is also versatile, and Hildebrand emphasizes that’s because Klassen’s work is always clean. 

“He’ll do Just For Laughs. He’ll do the Comedy Cave in Calgary. He’ll do the Yuk-Yuks club in Toronto,” he says. “But he can just as easily do a Promise Keepers event … Or those big, big youth retreats, because he’s so clean.”

Hildebrand invites people to check out www.lelandklassen.com, to get a sense of Klassen’s humour and personality.

“Physically, we make kind of a funny pair,” Hildebrand says, “because he’s tall and gangly, And I’m kind of short and stocky. Our senses of humour click really, really well.”

Hildebrand now spends most of his time acting, primarily throughout Canada, but also in the U.S. He’s done a bit of TV work, including a stint on Corner Gas, and a few other small films. But he’s continued to do improv work with troupes like Panic Squad. 

“I’ve loved doing improv for 20 years,” he says, “and to be able to do it at this level, with somebody this good, is a rare opportunity.”

“People who want good, clean fun” will enjoy the evening, he says. “We’re just going to have a blast and play our games and make fun of each other and take suggestions from the crowd, and maybe we’ll call a few people up and just have a great time.”

It will be a “riotous good time,” Hildebrand says, with a laugh. “A rollicking good time.”

The Thorny Rose Cafe will serve food and drinks as usual until 6:45 p.m. on Nov. 18, then close briefly in order to set up and re-open the doors at 7:45 p.m. The improv event starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10, and seating is limited, so Lynn Moerschbacher, Thorny Rose manager, encourages people to get tickets early. Talk to Lynn by stopping in at the Thorny Rose, or contact her at 403-677-2507 or RosebudThornyRose@gmail.com. Visa, Mastercard and debit are all welcome. Any remaining tickets will be sold at the door, cash only.