Comedian Elvira Kurt's schtick features an inventive bit in which she pretends to be an adult-kid hybrid. Skipping childishly across the stage, the lanky comic complains to an audience who's assembled to see her Comedy Central TV special, "You never see someone coming home from work, with their briefcase, swinging it, [saying], 'I had a good day. La la la. I made a leveraged buyout. La la la.'"

Refreshingly, instead of snarky or anti-PC humor, the core of Kurt's act is joy, plain and simple. This optimism is likely a reaction to her mother's doom and gloom. In the show, Kurt paints her mom, who immigrated to Canada from Hungary, as a killjoy who could dampen the sun if she wanted to. Instead of rebelling into cynicism, Kurt got to rebel right out of it.

Among Kurt's big-time gigs are performing with Second City, writing for Ellen DeGeneres and starring in the Vagina Monologues. But she headlines as herself, too, having recently hosted, written and produced for Comedy Network the short-lived Popcultured with Elvira Kurt, a late-night talk show parody in the vein.

When so many comedians are trying to be the big kid on the Los Angeles comedy block, Kurt refreshingly doesn't seem to mind being the little kid in the sandbox. In fact, after 9-11, she moved back to Toronto from Los Angeles. Now, she has a brand new baby with her partner, Chloe. "I am the disappointing boob," Kurt has said, which we presume is why she calls herself a "new lesbian dad."

In 2001, she performed for Sonoma County Pride Comedy night. Kurt returns this year with Eddie Sarfaty, currently on Comedy Central's Premium Blend.

Comics Elvira Kurt and Eddie Sarfaty perform for the 13th Annual Pride Comedy Night: A Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Celebration, on Saturday, June 9, at the Wells Fargo Center. 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. 8pm. $25—$35. Includes Pride Dance after the show presented by Sapphire Lounge. No kids under five. 707.546.3600.

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