Bilingual comedy night brings southeastern Manitoba charm

Barney Morin is stuck between the French and English languages.

While growing up in Otterburne, the 34-year-old comedian would switch between both languages in his home and with his friends. Morin, a 10-year comedy veteran, will host his first bilingual comedy night on Feb. 14 at Festival du Voyageur.

“When I hear and I visit communities where they sound like my aunt and uncles, I make jokes that I think would make my aunt and uncles laugh,” he told The Carillon.

“There’s a familiarity there that I think helps people feel comfortable and connect to the material of someone who lives in French and in English, because I don’t think it’s as talked about as it is.”

Morin said he was bit by the comedy “bug” when he was 15-years-old while MC’ing the St Pierre Jolys Frog Follies Festival and Agricultural Fair, spending hours “killing time” between the frog jumping competitions. He later would help write plays and host events in school. Throughout those experiences, Morin realized he liked being funny.

“I just have always had an interest for it. You know, being the youngest of four and I got a twin sister that, growing up, was a lot cuter than me,” he said. “So my need for attention was baked into my birth.”

Morin got his first big break at 18 when he performed a comedy routine during a Niverville’s Got Talent show.

From there, he performed at Winnipeg’s Rumor’s Restaurant and Comedy Club, the Winnipeg Comedy Festival and has travelled to Ottawa for gigs.

“That was a lot of fun. To bringing jokes that are about me from a small French town and getting to share those jokes with Francophones from all across the country…was a standout moment for me,” he said.

Morin said its special to express himself on stage through two languages and it’s relatable for many Manitobans.

The Soirée comédie will happen on Feb. 14 at 8 p.m., located inside Winnipeg’s Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain on 340 Provencher Blvd.

Alongside Morin, other performing comedians include New Brunswick native Ryan Doucette, Stephanie Morin-Robert, Pat Gagne Micheline Marchildon and La Broquerie resident Robert “Bobby T” Tétrault.

Tickets can be purchased at heho.ca.