Online dating is HARD, even at the best of times. But Soft Ruffians, an improv troupe, is here to make light of the dating scene with Unhinged: Your Dating Profile Improvised at Comedy Bar. They answered some questions about Unhinged and what audiences can look forward to at one of their shows!

Could you please introduce yourself to my readers and tell us a bit about your role in Unhinged?

We are the Soft Ruffians, a Toronto-based comedy troupe that runs a monthly dating themed show called ‘Unhinged: your dating profile improvised’. Each member in their own right is a professional comedian, but we come together to make sweet, sweet comedy the first Thursday of every month at Comedy Bar West.

Where did the inspiration for this show come from?

The inspiration for our show came from our own online dating debacles, but also from our coach, Alfred Chow. He has a lot of comedy experience and he has produced multiple hit shows around the city. He has a sense of the types of shows audiences are interested in, and he encouraged us to start a dating-themed show.

What’s the most wild or disarming thing you’ve seen on someone’s dating profile?

The most disarming thing that we’ve seen on someone’s dating profiles was their naked butt. And it wasn’t just one pic of their ass, either. Turns out he was a part time nudist looking for other nudists to date. My opinion? Effective strategy.

What drew you to the world of Improv and what do you love the most about it?

Each member has a different improv journey: one of our members came from the clown world, I started out in musical theatre, others came from stand up… But we all love doing characters and making people laugh as a team. It’s a really special feeling to get on the same page with a group of people to find a flow that can get an audience laughing.

What can audiences look forward to at a performance of Unhinged?

Audiences can look forward to dissecting profiles with us and laughing over the collective vulnerability and cringiness of the modern world of online dating. Have you ever seen a profile that made you go, “why did they think this choice was a good idea”? Well, we’re here to ask your question and get you an answer!

I want to thank the team at Soft Ruffians for taking the time to answer my questions. The next performance of Unhinged is on May 1! For more information and tickets, visit: https://comedybar.ca/shows/unhinged

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