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Laughing through tragedy

Laura Power
Northern News Services
Published Friday, September 14, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Often inspired by her allergy to latex, 15-year-old Lauren Froment's sense of humour isn't always G-rated.

But the aspiring standup comedian does her best to cater to a family audience when necessary.

NNSL Photo/Graphic

Lauren Froment, a 15-year-old aspiring standup comedian, performs at open mics around Yellowknife. - Laura Power/NNSL photo

During a performance at a recent fundraiser, Froment got her biggest reaction from a very family-friendly joke about hopscotch being created in the North as people jumped from island to island.

About a year ago, Froment's grandmother died, which brought on a lot of grief. To lighten the mood, she took to comedy, which provided some relief.

"I can either see life as something really tragic or as something really funny," she said. "It doesn't really take too much of an effort for me, I thought it seemed natural."

More tragedy came her way when her friend Randy died this summer. Through friends, she found inspiration to continue practising her standup.

"My friend Jack did a lot - he's just the kind of person that cheers you up when you need a laugh," she said.

She may be involving herself in a form of entertainment that is not very common in Yellowknife, but that doesn't put her off.

"If they had more comedians, I'd have more competition," she joked.

Most of her jokes centre around real life stories, she said. Along with the latex jokes, she often pokes fun at herself about her Pepsi habit and makes jokes about her family.

Rick Froment, her father, doesn't mind the comedy, and said he feels good that his daughter is putting her energy into something positive.

"She's always been such an extrovert. She loves the microphone and the spotlight," he said. "It's definitely her cup of tea."

The Grade 9 student at Sir John high school has performed at various open mic events in Yellowknife and hopes to get involved somehow at her school.

"I just want to be able to have something I can be remembered for when we have a high school reunion or something," she said.

But comedy means more to her than just a reputation.

"It shows that we have more than five senses," she said. "The sixth sense being obviously a sense of humour."