Reunited Kids in the Hall are real troupers

When the Kids in the Hall reconvened for some writing sessions in 2007, the veteran sketch-comedy troupe wasn't sure if the creative juices would flow. Their heyday, remember, was back in the late 1980s to mid-'90s, when their eponymous show aired on HBO and CBS.

However, the aging Kids — Dave Foley, Mark McKinney, Scott Thompson, Bruce McCulloch and Kevin McDonald — were inspired enough to write more than three hours of new material. At least half of that will be showcased Thursday at the WaMu Theatre.

Foley recently called from Los Angeles to discuss the Canadian troupe's first national tour in six years, what skits the Kids won't do and what the future holds for the act.

Q: How much of the material in your current show is new, and how much is classic Kids in the Hall?

A: Get ready for lots of new stuff. I think our fans want to see us do something different, and that's what we're going to give them. But we're fine with having some new scenes with old characters like Cathy and Kathie. I understand why people want to see a bit of that. As a fan of comedy, if I saw Bob Newhart, I would love it if he did his classic driving instructor bit.

Q: What skits won't you do?

A: You can count on me not doing "Simon and Hecubus" again. I'm too old to wear those tights. I wouldn't feel right.

Q: Much like SCTV, your television show still holds up remarkably well.

A: Since we're not political comedians, a lot of the social stuff we did a decade or so ago still holds up. It's great when the material can last longer than in that moment.

Q: Your 1996 film "Brain Candy" is a cult classic. But it didn't get much of a push when it was released.

A: Without a doubt. That movie never got the support it deserved. We shouldn't have made it with a big film company. There's a possibility that we'll do another film. If that does happen, we think we'll go the independent way.

Q: If you're talking about a possible movie, it sounds as though there's a future for Kids in the Hall. What's next?

A: I don't know. What I do know is that we don't have anything to prove. What makes me proudest is when people mention us with Monty Python and SCTV. That's just amazing to me, since I've always been a big fan of both of the work those artists did.

What's really nice is that we really enjoy working together again. Years ago we stopped because we got sick of each other, and that can happen after you work together for so many years like we did. But ... we're back and we're thrilled to work together again.