TOsketchfest23 Review: Bear with Me & Banzo and Blair

If you like puns, Bear with Me might just be your perfect match. A solo performance by MK Morris jumps from sketch to sketch, making the most use of a word’s double meaning that I’ve ever seen.

Although this is an incredibly unique factor, what really makes Bear with Me standout is Morris’ charm. She had an audience laughing out loud and kept a cheeky grin pasted on my face from start to finish. Morris is unapologetic when it comes to creating her own material and brings an exceptional level of commitment to all her characters.

There is a glowing spark in her eye as she delves into each sketch and that is my favourite thing about this show: Morris is having fun. It’s her own quirky brand of comedy and it’s a delight.

Closing the night came the live script read of Late Time with Banzo and Blair. Now, this is no sketch show but it’s a fresh breath of comedy. Vance Banzo and Tim Blair take the stage alongside many guest stars to read the pilot episode of their new web series.

Banzo and Blair star as the hosts who are always on the verge of missing their own talk show. There’s some absurd plot lines but that’s what I love about it. Late Time with Banzo and Blair is silly but it’s polished and that is a recipe for laughter. Not to mention the chemistry between the two actors—banter and synchronization get five stars from me.

The Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival runs until March 19.
Late Time with Banzo and Blair runs again on March 18.