Comedian Elva was the lone female at the JA/USA Connection – Comedy Dons edition, held on Sunday at Backyard on Constant Spring Road, but she stood tall. Elva was at her best as she took jabs at the audience, her co-stars and related a humorous anecdote her day out with her nephew pointing out the great gap between Generation ‘X’ and older folks.

Elva also had the crowd in stitches when she demonstrated ‘the Doberman style’. There were no shortage of advice for the females in the audience as she told them how to keep their men happy.

There was no doubt about it, Elva was large and totally in charge.

The first act for the night was Leighton Smith and he set the pace for what was to follow as he took some of the serious issues facing the country and provided comic relief for patrons, yet somehow managed to make his point also.

The 2006 Comedy Buss winner, Rohan Gunter, while not as sharp as his fellow comedians, did manage to elicit chuckles from some members in the audience.

First timer on the Jamaican stage, Cedric Newman out of Canada was a hit with the crowd. He scored by delving into the uniqueness of Jamaicans and how they are a proud bunch of people. His jokes about wearing ‘hand me downs’ — when your elder sibling is a girl — tickled the funny bone.

Newman also connected with his ‘mouth pointing’ imitation of Jamaicans and their work attitude.

Christopher ‘Johnny’ Daley was next and in between cracking up the audience he demanded his applause for copping an Actor Boy Award.

Shang from out of the USA seemed really taken with ‘Bruce’ as he quizzed, “Who is Bruce?”

“Is it one group or one man?” he threw out to the crowd as they responded that he is the prime minister. “Your prime minister name Bruce! What kind a name is that for a prime minister!” he said to laughter from his audience.

The laughter intensified throughout his set as Shang spoke about his Jamaican relatives, life in the States and poking fun at some members in the audience. He even came off the stage to give a female trouble in the audience who accused him of being a pervert.

Shang exited on a high note making way for the closing act of the night, Ity and Fancy Cat.

There was an excited buzz as they made their way to the change. The duo displayed why their show is so popular as they set about the business of keeping the crowd in stitches. It was even more fun…well a bonus really as Ity called on his brother Owen ‘Blacka’ Ellis on stage. It was more chuckles from the crowd as a chair was given to the comedian in ensuring he didn’t go back on his promise in quitting stand up comedy!

Comedy Dons did not enjoy a full house, but for those who turned out it was an evening well spent under the stars.