Preview: A Grizzly Took My Bébé

‘A Grizzly Took My Bébé’ and other obscure Canadian things
by Natalie Oliveri

The Yukon is in northwest Canada right beside Alaska: the most northwest Canada you can get, in some of the last untouched land on Earth.

So it’s no surprise that someone from Yukon – a comedian and her troupe – is willing to make a trip all the way to the great Down Under for some laughs.

Jenny Hamilton and the Yukon Gold Comics will travel 13156.39 kilometres to bring their show ‘A Grizzly Took My Bébé’ to the Adelaide Fringe at Tuxedo Cat’s ‘Cat Bowl’. Directed by Mickey D (Chewing the Phat & Mickey D – Get On with It!) the show is in no way tailored to conservative types. A mixture of stand up and character skits, Jenny describes it as for mature audiences (who can appreciate immature things).

Jenny Hamilton (Photo credit: Bruce Barrett)

Fellow ‘Yukoners’ George Maratos, Stephen McGovern and Claire Ness join Jenny to present what they call ‘a unique slice of arctic life’.

Jenny says the ‘A Grizzly Took My Bébé’  has no link to the Azaria Chamberlain case from the early 80’s, but is rather an attempt to be edgy and eye-catching to an Australian audience.

“It is one of Australia’s most famous lines – I just put a Yukon spin on it – we do not have any dingoes in Canada and you do not have grizzly bears,” she says.

“The ‘bébé’ part is a call out to our French-Canadian friends and family – it is meant to be funny, never disrespectful – we’re Canadian eh, we do not want to be impolite.”

Jenny Hamilton is a certified auto mechanic but has been on the comedy circuit since 2008, drawing on her own life for material and she has plenty, describing herself as a “short, fat lesbian.”

“I found at a young age that comedy could prevent tragedy; mostly violence against myself or other ‘nerds’ on the school grounds.”

I was a small kid, that quickly realized if I could make a bully laugh, I would not get beaten up and if I made them laugh enough – they would even protect me – but this only happened once,” she quips.

“I use my life as my canvas: self deprecating with confidence is how some have described my work.”

Jenny and the Yukon Gold Comics have enjoyed working with Australian director Mickey D on the show for Adelaide Fringe, finding common ground between the Australian and Canadian experience.

“Mickey D calls us ‘Commonwealth cousins’, or ‘Snow Aussies’ and has helped us to realize that our material is universal,” she says.

“He encouraged us to keep doing what we are doing, but bigger.”

“I can’t blow enough smoke up this man butt, I really can’t – we are extremely grateful for our experience with Mick – he is a true Statesman of Comedy.”

The Yukon Gold comics arrive in Adelaide on February 20, coming from a land of -40° Celcius, to a place that could potentially be 80° hotter.

But Jenny is ready for it – even though she’s never been south of Hawaii.

“Myself and a tall Irish fella who is in the troupe are sensitive to sunshine so hopefully we don’t burst into flames as we exit the plane.”

COMPETITION

We have two double passes to see ‘A Grizzly Took My Bebe’ on Saturday 2^nd March at 8.30pm.

To win, just answer this simple question:

Which animal is native to Yukon?

1. Grizzly Bear
2. Dingo

Leave your answers as a comment below to enter.