Canadian Press
Pro Wrestler Trish Stratus to show off Comedy Moves at Toronto's Second City
by Megan Leach
August 6th, 2004


TORONTO (CP) - She's been a good girl, a bad girl, and now a funny girl.

World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Trish Stratus, known for her buxom figure and "Bulldog" finishing move, will make a special guest appearance with The Second City's Invasion Free Since 1812 revue in Toronto next Thursday. "It's kind of Saturday Night Live style, where I'll be hosting the event and participating in a number of sketches," said the Toronto native, one of the many Canadians who've made it big in the wrestling entertainment business.

"It will be a great chance to see Trish Stratus doing something very different than what you see every week."

It won't be the first foray into comedy for Stratus. After an initial appearance on the U.S. sketch comedy show MAD TV, she started working with the writers and found they could do a lot more with her guest shots.

"We got chatting a little bit and they realized, 'Oh, she's kind of a quirky gal,"' said Stratus.

They realized she was capable of doing more characters and invited her back for a second show.

"I had a chance to see Trish on MAD TV recently and thought she was absolutely terrific," said Andrew Alexander, co-chairman, CEO and executive producer of The Second City, in a release.

"We jumped at the chance to have her onstage with our cast."

Stratus said she has been a longtime fan of the troupe's alumni and their comedic style. She attended a performance of the revue and said she was hooked by the improv-audience participation set at the end of the show.

"I talked to some of the people at The Second City and I actually attended a few classes, just to kinda test the waters," said Stratus.

"I had so much fun with it. It just kind a clicked with my personality."

Stratus squeezed in comedy practice recently with an appearance at Montreal's Just For Laughs festival. She took part in the gala evening, hosted by fellow Canadian Caroline Rhea. The two teamed up for sketches between the comedy acts.

"Sketches ranged from us being the Olsen twins in 20 years at our Las Vegas lounge act," said Stratus. "We did Wrestling Eye for the Queer Guy where Scott Thompson from (The) Kids in the Hall was the other participant."

Stratus is integrating her funny side into her WWE character, as her wrestling persona continues to transform from a babyface - wrestling-speak for a good character - to heel.

"We're kind of amped up versions of ourselves on our show," said Stratus of her walk on the evil side. "Naturally my personality is very sarcastic but you can really spruce it up."

The Second City performance coincides with the WWE SummerSlam event at Toronto's Air Canada Centre on Aug. 15. The annual pay-per-view extravaganza is expected to attract tens of thousands of wrestling fans.

Stratus said she loves performing in front of her hometown.

"As a bad guy on the show you try to garner boos," she said. "Now as a hometown favourite in yesteryear, I'll come out there and I'll be hoping they'll boo me this time around."

Stratus compares the world of wrestling to performing in a never-ending soap opera. Performing in front of a live audience in a comedy show isn't that different from wrestling, she added.

"Definitely audience interaction is key," she said of both disciplines.

"The only thing probably that is different is the physicality of it. Although I'm sure I'll be rolling around the stage a little bit as well."

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