The Province from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • 83

THE PROVINCE I E-LIST II C11 THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2007 Fear not a factor for Rogan on or off stage ON STAGE what he loves. Hosting NBC's Fear Factor for six seasons was, he says, "just a job. I would show up and go, 'What? Are you ing kidding me?" While the show increased his profile, not to mention bank account, it wasn't what he wanted to be doing with his life. "Ideally, it probably would have been better if I had done something comedy-oriented. Because to be really famous but to not be known for the thing you do best is very odd.

It's a strange situation," he says. Not that he's one of the types who believes reality TV is the bane of America. He sees a place for it at the table. "No more than fast food ruined human beings' dietary habits," he says. "Sometimes I want to sit down to a nice healthy meal of fish and vegetables and eat well, and sometimes I just want a cheeseburger.

There's nothing wrong with that." 20 years. "Comedy is the most rewarding art form to me," he says. "I think it's just the coolest job on the planet." Rogan has been causing a stir lately with his self-imposed role of comedy cop, publicly calling out comics Carlos Mencia and Dane Cook for stealing jokes. After confronting Mencia on stage at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles, Rogan was banned from the club and dropped by his (and Mencia's) agent, although he was immediately scooped up by the famed William Morris agency. "I'm happy that we have exposed some real big problems in this comedy community," he says.

"I'm happy that the Internet exists. Because we've always had the problem of joke thieves. That problem has existed way back to the Catskills days." Slowly but surely, Rogan's name is becoming more associated with Fear Factor and NewsRadio co-star released his second comedy album last month. Called Shiny Happy Jihad, Rogan gives his views on suicide bombers, proposes solutions for peace in the Middle East, and debunks the story of Noah's Ark, among other topics. And a simple Internet search will lead you to his ruthless squelch of a nuisance audience member.

Rogan, who plays Yuk Yuk's tomorrow and Saturday, can't help himself. "I'm just too honest about things," he says. "I say things you're not supposed to say but maybe are true. So that's what my comedy is like." One of the problems of mainstream TV success is that it gives fans a skewed set of expectations. Rogan estimates that only 30 per cent of those who know of him have any idea he's been a standup comedian for close to Joe Rogan Where: YukYuk's, 1015 Burrard St.

When: Tomorrow and Saturday, 8 and 1 0:30 p.m. Tickets: $40 at 604-696-9857, at the door BY GUY MACPHERSON SPECIAL TO THE PROVINCE To most people, Joe Rogan is known primarily as a reality television host, sitcom star or sports commentator. But in the comedy world, Rogan is a fearless standup comic, unafraid of taking on the most taboo of subject matter or aggressive heckler. It's perhaps not surprising, given his martial arts background. The Ultimate Fighting Championships analyst, former host of Joe Rogan has caused a stir for publicly calling out other comics for stealing jokes.

Three plays to see this weekend Miss Julie and Dutchman Lyric Stage Project presents its premiere production of two one-act plays about class struggle, sexual desire and repressed rage. Beaumont Playhouse, 31 6 W. 5th Ave. 'May 9-12 and May 15-19, 8 and Central Park West by Woody Allen. Presented by Aumentare Productions.

Havana Theatre, 1212 Commercial Dr. Until Saturday, 8 p.m. $20 at the door, 604-81 3-9409 to reserve The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate iiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiniirtliiiiimiimiiiiiiyi p.m.-$17, 604-733-3783 Theatre Continuing Guys and Dolls Magee Mainstage Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery The Farndale ladies create stage mayhem and a dramatic massacre when everything goes wrong as they attempt to bring a little culture to their community in this Agatha Christie-style IFish Eyes (Gateway Theatre, Richmond, to May 1 2): Anita Majumdar is impressive and utterly delightful in her acclaimed solo show in which she plays an Indo-Canadian suburban teen torn between Bollywood fantasies, her infatuation with prom date Buddy, and her commitment to traditional South Asian dance. This one's a definite crowd-pleas-er. (Read more about Fish Eyes in tomorrow's Province.) 2 Chicago (Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts to May 8): One of the great musicals is here in a production from the Broadway Across Canada group, whose touring shows have been of a consistently high calibre.

The strong cast is led by TV star and Broadway musical vet Tom Wopat in Richard Gere's movie role. 3 Bangs Buddha (Presentation House, North Vancouver, to Last chance to catch this latest work from local genius Kendra Fanconi and her Only Animal company. Quiet Tokyo schoolgirl and Vancouver drag queen "set out to save the world from conformity." Co-written by the always interesting Maiko Bae Yamamoto and co-starring up-and-comer Donna Soares. jerry. wasserman vancouverpIays.com presents the classic Broadway musical about New York gamblers looking for a home for their regular craps game.

Magee Secondary School, 6360 Maple St. Ends tomorrow 1 1 0, 604-7 1 3-8200 Greater Vancouver Zone Festival Five-day festival includes several unpublished works, providing theatre-goers with a rare opportunity to see new plays. Coast Capital Playhouse, 1532 Johnston Road, White Rock Until tomorrow 12 theatrebc.org Bangs Buddha Set in downtown Tokyo, Bangs Buddha is a story about a dynamic duo out to save the world from conformity. By the Only Animal Theatre Company. Presentation House Theatre, 333 Chesterfield North Van Until Saturday 16, 604-990-3474 Death Defying Acts Three one-act plays by three great comic icons An Interview, by murder mystery.

Presented by Theatre West Van. -Kay Meek Centre, 1 700 Mathers West Van Until Saturday, 8 p.m. 15, 604-91 3-3634 The Odyssey The world of Greek mythology comes alive. Meet Athena, Poseidon, the Cyclops and others as tales of ancient Greece unfold in a story that spans the seas and the decades. Produced by Carousel Theatre for ages 5.

Waterfront Theatre, Granville Island Until Saturday 1 2.50-S25, 604-669-3410 Quad Quad is Jessie's story, and what Jessie wants more than anything else is to adopt a special-needs child. Each night the role of Jessie will be played by a different performer. The audience will consult the sketches and bios in the program and decide which of the four lead actors they'd like to see in which of the four main roles. Votex Theatre, 1 204 Caledonia Ave, North mm www Van Until Saturday 5, 778- SSI's David by Elaine May 848-31 14 Know your limit, play within it -SSI.