Apr 09, 2009 - 12:01 PM

By Mike Ruta

WHITBY -- Neil Crone and Kevin Frank have been doing stand-up comedy together for more than 20 years, but don't ask what they'll be doing at their April 17 shows in Whitby.

"We don't know what's going to happen with the show until the audience starts telling us," Crone says.

Crone and Frank perform two distinct fundraising shows at Westminster United Church at 7 and 9 p.m.

He says the show is "completely directed by the audience" and the pair only has a few outlines for the evening. Be prepared for games and sketches. And get ready to be a part of the fun, as they will be going into the audience to bring viewers up on stage. But relax -- unlike a lot of stand-up routines, the intent isn't to make audience members look foolish.

"If anyone is going to look like an idiot, it's us," Crone says.

He appears in Little Mosque on the Prairie and, in addition to being an author, guest speaker and comedian, is a Metroland Durham Region Media Group blogger and columnist. Frank is a Toronto Training Centre Faculty member at Second City in Toronto and has appeared in shows such as Street Legal, Due South and the Red Green Show. Second City alumni, they co-founded the former Big City Improv on Queen Street in Toronto. They have been involved in various improv troupes and, fair to say, know one another quite well.

"We always say we've spent more time together in hotel rooms than with our wives," Crone quips.

He was asked to speak at the church roughly a month ago and "just had a ball." Contacted afterwards to see if he would help the church with a fundraising night, Crone says he was more than willing.

"I really liked the spirit in this place," he says, noting the church has a large out-reach program.

While "it's going to be strange for us" performing in a church, Crone notes Westminster United is contemporary in terms of its design, describing the venue as "a big beautiful space" almost like an amphitheatre.

One idea for the evening is for a Complaints Department bit, where Crone leaves the room and Frank goes into the audience and gets an object from someone.

"I'm returning the item that Kevin's got and I have no idea what it is," he says.

Crone stresses that the shows are kid-friendly and the younger set is certainly welcome.

The funds raised are for general church needs. A free babysitting service is available.

The church is at 1850 Rossland Rd. E., just west of Garrard Road.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students, available at the church office weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information call the church at 905-723-6442.