For the second time ever, the comedy duo Tracy and Martina found their way to Kingston for a live performance.
Halfway through their national tour, the Cape Breton-based comedians Justine Williamson, who plays Tracy, and Greg Vardy, who plays Martina, stopped at The Broom Factory for two nights of drunken stories and good conversation. Following the same format as their podcast, Shootin’ the Sh!t with Tracy & Martina, the show consisted of a podcast-style live show with visual components, followed by a live questions-and-answer (Q&A) and crowd work.
On Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m., the show began with a short excerpt from their new film, Tracy & Martina: Goin’ Out West, cataloging their travels and hijinks in their mission to reach a show in Alt. Then, Tracy and Martina’s appearance on stage was followed by a large round of applause from the crowd.
Setting the tone for the show going forward, Martina comedically poured an entire bottle of wine between their two glasses, cracking a joke about the recently escaped prisoner in Kingston.
“There’s no way I’ll be able to go to sleep sober,” she said. “Maybe he’s here tonight,” Tracy added, followed by laughs from the audience.
With stories surrounding their travels, on airplanes, in cars, and tales from their hometown, it became apparent how hilariously honest they were. Their distaste for Ontario was a recurring theme throughout the show, with a particular targeting of Toronto.
“They’re all business over there, no time for fun,” Martina said, having performed there on their last tour. While showing a clear, heartfelt love for Kingston, these girls are without a doubt Nova Scotian to the bone, with the Cape Breton accents to back it up.
A very interesting segment of the show was Tracy and Martina’s explanation of the cultural differences between small-town Cape Bretoners and greater Ontario, even referring to Kingston alongside cities like Ottawa and Toronto. While the description of their hometowns were less glamorous and more “charming,” with pictures of dirty snowbanks to back it up, Tracy and Martina spoke fondly of their experiences and the “townies” they have befriended.
The duo’s comedic timing, and more importantly, electric chemistry, made for many entertaining moments. Their eclectic and extravagant drag look is the epitome of Sami Landri’s “trashy-chic.”
As the night went on, and their wine glasses reached their bottoms, the venue broke for an intermission, or as Martina delightfully referred to it as, a “smoke break.”
When they began again, it was the Q&A and crowd work section, where the duo engaged in dialogue with audience members, even inviting someone on stage to riff with.
Kingston was lucky to host Tracy and Martina for two nights at The Broom Factory, and with a new movie and the second half of their tour, their banter and stories will continue to reach the ears of their adoring fans.
Tags
comedy, drag, Nova Scotia, The Broom Factory
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