Cheech & Chong Deliver THC Packed Joint Performance

by Miles Overn

Any doubts as to whether stoner comedy from back in the 70s would still work 40 years later were put to rest last night at Penticton's South Okanagan Events Centre as Cheech & Chong brought their 'O Cannibis" tour to town.

The tone was set early on with Shelby Chong, wife of Tommy Chong, opening with a few minutes of solo comedy, preparing the crowd for just what kind of a night it was going to be. She would reappear throughout the evening pulling memories out of the guys and injecting her own recollections and humour.

The show alternated between comedic skits such as "Dave's Not Here" and musical bits such as Tommy Chong's "Does Your Mama Know About Me" and the more than a little rauchy but absolutely hillarious "Blind Melon Chitlin."

In between those various bits, both Marin and Chong spoke about their early careers and how they came to meet, and the paths they been on since their comedy heydays in which they released 8 albums. (More albums followed in later years.)

They were undoubtedly more well known for their string of movies in the late 70s and early 80s, and they utiized all those deadpan delivery skills to keep their audience moving between not believing what they just heard and bending over in uncontrollable laughter.

Without even the tiniest hint of political correctness and with total irreverence, they transported everyone back to a place in time when you could laugh at anything that was funny without having to worry about whether or not it offended anyone. It was received as a welcome tonic to soothe the constraints of todays world of rules and regulations.

This performance was one of the very best comedy shows I've seen in the past decade. Judging by the looks on the faces of those around me in the audience, I'm pretty sure that I wasn't the only one who was enjoying the concert.

Cheech & Chong delivered 90 minutes of pure entertainment, uproariously funny humour, warm recollections, and unbridled joy to an appreciative South Okanagan Events Centre crowd. 5 out of 5 stars!