September 2, 2014
…when Mills-y (Ben Mills of ‘Prophouse fame’) approached to me at finish to again an other one of latest installment to the awkwardly titled, tho’sentimentally attached, “Richie Catmore‘s Comedy Scratchbox”, as hosted at “The Prophouse Cafe”, Mills’ unsteady gait and furrowed brow suggested to me to what end did he intend this overture, Mills, a deep baritone, speaking now in strangled whisper says “….’They’re ‘ shuttin’ us down, Shlomo. There ain’t-a-gonna be no more ‘Catmore’s ‘ at “The Prophouse Cafe”, after 9 more installments pending henceforward”
Prophouse Café, Vancouver
“…..Wait just a moment, Mills!”- I say
” What do you mean ‘They’ are shuttin’ us down?- Mills ” Who?! Is ‘they’?”
“The status quo” he says
“You mean, the band?” I ask, the obvious query
“How could this be?! I love Status Quo!” I say to mine self in moment of reflection
Status Quo in 1978
“Not the band”, says Mills, “I love ’em too”. “The status quo, the faceless, nameless, mean n’ ordinary , seeming all powerful inhuman entity under n’ to which ‘we’ (gesturing madly about to that unseemly collection of characters what distinguish ‘Catmore’s unique as it is superior audience, and still, and with what remains of his dramatic gesture, including, also, the comics what performed upon makeshift stage this same evening) “….under n’to which we are all beholden”- The Status Quo- The way things are”. ” ‘they’ sense ‘we’ are gettin’ too close. That things are changin’. That ‘we’ are makin’ a difference!….. ‘they’ had t’ do sum thing, Change to the status quo is death, a new dawn encroaches on ‘their’ darkness, ‘they’ must persist in a world in which tomorrow never comes- “Richie Catmore’s” n’ ‘da “Prophouse Cafe” were, are anathema to a prevailing status quo, so, at end of September, “The Prophouse Cafe”, and with it, “Richie Catmore’s” will shall be soon no more….”
(I listen to the background melancholy strains of Paul Fenz on his violin, a moment away from his piano)
… .I reel , back on my heels, the many surrounding light fixtures what adorn ‘the Prophouse’ dancing in my purview
….I did not return again to perform at “The Prophouse Cafe” ’til again last nite , an historic occasion, on a show commandeered by the latest to play the role of the punchline Paesano in the ethno- drama what is the world of Vancouver Stand-up Comedia- Joey Commisso
…. arriving early I had occasion briefly to commiserate with mine olde good friend Dylan Rhymer, ‘ co- creator, along with Mills to “Richie Catmore’s Comedy Scratchbox. Dylan Rhymer- The ‘Rocky story’ of Vancouver Stand-up Comedy’ so generally regarded now as such since after his most unlikely, as it wuz heart rending ‘knock ’em down, drag ’em out’ victory in last year’s edition of the punchline Kumetei Battle Royale what is the “People’s Choice of Vancouver Stand-Up Comedy Competition 2013”
….with a jaunty step and brisknes of pace what seemed not in keeping to Rhymer’s stooped shoulders, beery breath and withered expression, left unspoken between us wuz the lament over all those dashed hopes we now bear, we, who thought, maybe, now, sum way- could be-wirh Rhymer’s ‘Rocky like’ victory in last year’s mega- competition- this could, will, must be parlayed into sum thing alike a perpetual wellspring for “The Prophouse Cafe”, and, so, by inference- ” Richie Catmore’s Comedy Scratchbox “……
But, I s’pose, didn’t neiver of us need say it
…that this show would be seem possessed of it’s own mortality , wuz, can be assumed
A tall order; , Mills scheduling Commisso to ‘step up’ and present show in his absence on the 45th anniversary for the tragic and untimely death in a single engine plane crash for Heavyweight great and undefeated Champeen – Rocky Marciano (patron saint of ‘da goombahs)
Rocky Marciano
…add to this, the passing of Survivor lead singer Jimi Jamison earlier that day, and we all wondered how Commisso wuz gonna be able do it
Dino Archie, star of stage, film n’ television, the Biggest American comic talent import to Vancouver since Zach Galifianakis wuz workin’ the comedy clubs and miscellany hamburger rooms what comprise to account for ‘the Vancouver Stand-up Comedy Scene’
Dino Archie, in recollect to a real world Apollo Creed axe to request from his friend Commisso, a little stage time, back to “The Prophouse” again- and, not for 1st time
….it wuz a helluva show- a helluva
“The Prophouse Cafe”, that peculiar and whimsy and gracious place is soon to be no more
And along with, and besides, so will discontinue, at least this variation on “Richie Catmore’s Comedy Scratchbox”
Only 8 [7] shows still remain
Next [last] week appearing guest presentesse- the lovely Emma Cooper
Shlomo
September 2, 2014
Shlomo McPeake 