Christmas Comedy Cook-Up celebrates 20 years
Published:Friday | December 22, 2023 | 12:09 AMYasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer
On December 26, 2004, the first Christmas Comedy Cook-Up was staged at the Wyndham Hotel in New Kingston and it was a roaring success. Twenty years later, the venue has changed, but the rollicking, side-splitting laughter has remained the same.
The organisers of the annual event promise that this year’s festivities inside the grand ballroom of The Jamaica Pegasus hotel will be extra special.
“For early attendees, we will have pre-show music and entertainment by Aston ‘Robot’ Ellis on steel pans in the foyer of The Jamaica Pegasus hotel,” comedian/producer Ian ‘Ity’ Ellis shared.
Tracing the origins of the show, he continued, “The idea developed 20 years ago from a monthly stand-up comedy series called Backyaad Crack-Up. Honestly, we are still beside ourselves in disbelief that it has lasted 20 years, because the art form of stand-up comedy is still growing in acceptance.”
He noted, with appreciation, that Christmas Comedy Cook-Up “has become a cherished tradition, bringing together comedy enthusiasts locally and within the Jamaican diaspora for an evening of joy and laughter”.
Quizzed about the ingredients that have blended seamlessly together to ensure the longevity of the Cook-Up Ellis highlighted “determination and sheer creativity”.
“It was ... and still is ... a challenge to put together an attractive line-up of comedians. We’ve ventured outside of Jamaica each year bringing in stand-up comics from the Caribbean, US, Canada and the UK,” he said.
However, in celebration of its 20th staging, this year’s showcase, in “a nod to the incredible growth and wealth of humour and creativity that Jamaica now has to offer”, will feature an all-star local cast.
Comedians who will pull out their best jokes on Boxing Day are IRAWMA multiple-award winning Chris Johnny Daley, Blakka Ellis, Ity and Fancy Cat, Dufton Shepherd, Dr Michael Abrahams, Leighton Smith, and Kathy ‘Tan Deh Deh’ Grant.
Pretty Boy Floyd will take the stage with an interactive pre-show segment with fun give-aways and other activities.
Asked to share a moment that stands out for him throughout the 20 stagings of the event, Ellis didn’t have to think long and hard.
“I remember one year when our Ity and Fancy Cat TV show was on air we had more persons outside the grand ballroom of the then Hilton Hotel, than the capacity crowd inside. A total sold-out occasion so we planned an impromptu second show for the following day. We’ve had an unbroken staging due to enduring sponsorship support from partners like Courts Jamaica that has been with us from the premiere. Only one staging was affected by the recent pandemic,” Ellis said.
Does he envision Christmas Comedy Cook-Up lasting another 20 years?
“Maybe more!” an enthusiastic Ellis shouted.