Abnormally Funny People 0..
This showcase features a group of disabled comedians pltis a token able- bodied gagster. Pruitt the ctittiiig humour of the wheelchair-bourid Lil. (‘arr to the fren/ied funnies of the short Tanya Lee Davis. this show has more giggles thaii your average ensemble. (Marissa Burgess) I’li'asant't' Home. 556 6550. until 28 Aug (not [6). 9.40pm. £8 £9 (£6.50 £7.50). Back in Town Again .0. Sketch shows on stage are notoriously difficult to ptill off btit performer .\'ick Mohammed is a versatile physical comedian with an incredibly expressive face. his talent for morphing into eccentric characters best demonstrated in his turns as a neurotic safety adviser and a frustrated conductor. The sketches hit and miss in equal measure. in a show that's amusing and admirable rather than out-aiid-out hilarious. (Allan Radcliffe) ('nilt'rln'lly. 0870 745 3085'. until 28 Aug (not 16). 3.45,»;1. £7. 50 £8.50 (£6.50 £7.50).
Bad Play 3 0.. \Velcoiiic to the year 3005. All hope is dead. liarth is a desert and people have been forced to live underground. slaving iii polythene mines for the Sinister ()vei'lord. The Bad Players are back. and this time it's futuristic? Spinning a show otit of inept acting. misctied sotiiid effects and i'opy props generates just a few good laughs. (Allan Radcliffe) (I 0870 70/ 5105. until 29 Aug (not I7). 1.45pm. £8.50(£7.50).
Kevin Brennan .0. There’s nothing worse than a l‘ringe turn who hasn’t done his homework. Kevin Brennan has bree/ed over from New York (‘ity. and questions such as ‘Do yoti have bowling here‘." and ‘llave you guys heard of instant iiiessenger'." suggest he thinks he's appearing at a festival on the moon. \Vhile Brennan arrives with a strong pedigree (ha\ irig been a writer on Saturday .Viglit Live) and a nice assortment of disgruntled observations. he seems very ptit otit when the audience (most of whom probably have never heard of him) don't instantly lap tip his every draw led word. (Allan Radcliffe) Assembly Rooms. 226 2428. until [2 Aug. 8.15pm. £l0.50 £//.50 (£9.50 £10.50). Burlesk’s Little Bo Peepshow
.0. Burlesque is a tricky an to perfect and unfortunately this plucky variety show doesn't quite hit the spot. [I swings between excellent and embarrassing. and there are a few stand- out acts like a dancing toff and suitably cocky'n‘camp host. Btit don’t worry if 90 minutes sounds like a long stint -- nearly half of it is drinking time. (Rachael Street) (' ('t'ntral. 0870 70/ 5105. until 29 Aug. niitlniglit. £9.50 (£6.50 £8.50). Cabareighties O. The dreadful orange wigs are promising. as is the opening documentary video segment on the litinn Brothers. 80s cabaret also-rans reunited after a two decades of bitterness. disappointment and justified obscurity. But w hen it becomes apparent that the Brothers are to sCt‘\C as M('s for a raft of lamentany uninspired stib-charactei‘s. many with precious little connection to the show's theme. all promises are broken. and even
the moderately enjoyable chaotic finish fails to hitch tip the show's saggy trousers. (Sam Healy) The Stand II. 558 72 72. until 28 Aug (not I 5 ), 3.30pm. £6 ([5).
Cats Like Cheese: 9 Lives 0
Cats. Cheese. .\'ot intrinsically funny. and not here iii the hands of Aberystwythian Atiton Pick. Standing statue-like close to the mic. Pick drags all manner of biographical details out of one audience member in between musing on cats (his died) and cheese (he likes it). There‘s precious little else save for some thinly- disguised sexual innuendo. (Robiri Lee) l’enut' l3. 1.0(‘llt’ml ('lase. 07074 20] 313. until 13 Aug. [0.30pm. £7 (£5).
Christie and Doyle’s Axis of Evil
0. Despite surfacing for the occasional deadpan one-liner. Bridget (‘hristie and Andrew Doyle are locked in their own slapstick/slap-Doyle/surreal world for much of this sketch show. There‘s some good material here: bickering over a half-lion. half-prawn cuddly toy reaches unexpected heights. btit schizophrenic (‘hristie spends so long complaining about the unsatisfactory nature of the gags that it becomes hard to disagree with her. (Katy McAulay) l'nderlielly. 0870 745 3083. until 28 Aug
( not I 7). 5.50pm. £7.50—£8.50
( £6.50—£7. 50).
Clak! .0. Not annoying mime act shock! The Amieva twins recreate film scenes with a minimum of props and speech. and a maximum of tongue-in- cheek. It’s not often you see Zorro played as a frenzied sex pest. or that effects-heavy fight scene from The Matrix made funny by Neo lightitig a tiny knitted limie. of Bert and Ernie fame. (Morag Bruce) Sit-vet lz'go, 0870 24/ 0136. until 14 Aug. 4.20pm: 2 l - - 28 Aug. 9pm. £8 ( £6.50).
Cowards .0. Here are four excellent character actors who work well together to create a slick. intelligent show. There are some dark. rather uncomfortable moments in these cleverly realised vignettes. including an inspired pre-ordination discussion between priests. Btit without enough belly laughs or punch.
(Rachael Street) I’leasant'e Courtyard. 556 6550. until 29 Aug (not 16). 4.30pm.
£7 . 50r-£8. 50 ( £6—£7).
Bruce Devlin O. The Stand's resident transcendentally offensive MC tries his hand at character comedy and crashes like a Russian satellite. Four underdeveloped Scots caricatures (distinguished by little more than the presence or absence of a dress or wig) whinge about dieting and weight problems for a torturous hour. broken only by the very occasional oasis of meagre amusement. (Sam Healy) The Stand II. 558 7272. until 28 Aug (not [5). 7.l0pni. £6 (£5).
Die Clatterschenkenfletermaus .0. If there‘s a richer vein of pisstake stock than messianic European electropop. we know not where it lies. Btit while Karl Karl and Karl (iunter do serve up some succulently dark musical laughs (‘When You Love Me In My Mouth‘ is an unequivocal highlight) the execution tumbles a tad short of the immaculate concept. (Sam Healy) ('afi‘ Royal. 556 2549. until 28 Aug. 4.40pm. £5.
A Fools Paradise 00 Jason and Riley have landed themselves in prison for telling bad jokes. and meet a variety of characters (played by themselves). They needn't have been quite so harsh on
Jason Rouse
themselves: their gags aren't worth being banged up for. An amiable enough pair btit some of the gags are a little cliched. (Marissa Burgess) ('in ('antral (a) ( 'ity Cali". 078 I 5 I96 828. until 28 Aug. 5pm; [6. 23 Aug. 8.15pm. £7 (£5).
Free South African Stand-Up
O. The four South African comics featured in the show all hail from far flung comers of the country and all have different styles to match. From downbeat deadpan to manic energy. all manage to raise a few laughs from the crowd. It's all free btit what price a decent night's comedy‘.’ (Marissa Burgess) Lindsay 's. 556 8974. until 14 Aug. 8. I 5pm. free tickets“.
Gavin and Gavin O. In the brutal trading-off of sisterly put-downs it is hard to tell if the (iavins’ at times desperate expressions are entirely intentional. Despite pushing some of the right buttons there's just a little too much chaff amongst the wheat and the delivery. however telepathic the two may jest at being. falls short with the outcome narrowly missing the mark. (Mark lidniundson) Ass-milin Rooms. 226 2428. until 29 Aug (not [6). 5.45pm. £9—£l() (£8>—£9).
Janey Godley 00 You‘ve got to admire Janey (iodley. She's had a troubled life involving abuse. gangsters and riiurder and yet she's still got the balls to talk about it on stage. But that doesn‘t necessarily mean it makes good comedy. because apart from a few moments of light relief. this is pretty heavy going stuff. (Rachael Street) (lmlerlwlly. 0870 745 308?. until 28 Aug. 10pm. £9.50-- £10.50
( £8. 50—-£9. 50).
Natalie Haynes .00 Natalie Haynes has just turned 30 and is very excited about it though it has led to an obsession with ‘70s sci-Ii flick Logan 's Run where those that clock tip three decades are killed. Haynes talks so fast it’s the comedy equivalent of a two for one offer; blink and you‘ll miss the quick wit and sharp asides her show is littered with. (Marissa Burgess) I’li'asana’ ( 'aurtvarrl. 556 6550. until 29Aug (not [7). 7.20pm. £8. 50- —-£9. 50 ( £7— — £8).
An Mom With Danielle Ward 8: Roisin Conaty 00. If not exactly revolutionisiiig the double-header format. this brace of linglish comedians are certainly doing it justice. Both performers have sharp material. though Ward is clearly the more assured. riffing on Siamese twins and ‘car allergies‘ with confidence arid poise. partying hecklcs with a practiced dexterity. (‘onaty's act is engaging too btit her skittish delivery has a nasty habit of puncturing her punchlines. A callow show btit definitely one to watch. particularly for the surprise existential- cabaret ending. (Sam llealy) Baliy' Bel/y. 0870 745 3085’. until 28 Aug (not [6 I. 8.20pm. £7.50 £8.50t£6.50 £7.50). Russell Howard .00 ‘Skylarking‘. claims Russell lloward. means ‘tornfoolery of the highest order.‘ If its energy and charm you're looking for. the young stand-up doesn’t come tip short. lle rushes a little through his above-average riiaterial. which features bubble wrap. unruly kids and the (‘ountrysidc Alliance. btit Howard is on the right track.
(James Smart) l’leasant‘i' ('aurtyunl. 556 6550. until 29 Aug (not [6). 8.30pm. £8.50 «£9.50 (£7 £8).
I’ve Stuttered So I’ll F-F-Finish .0. (‘omic timing is a tricky thing to perfect at the best of times. So you have to admire the pluck of Jaik (‘ampbell for taking to the stage with a speech impediment. Appropriately enough. the most original gags are the ones about living with a stutter. while the rest are the usual blokey non-observations about not understanding women. (Allan Radcliffe) (' lilUt‘ll'lf. 0< ’70 70/ 5105. until 29 Aug (not 16:. 8.20pm. £8.50 (£7.50).
Lick & Chew .0. This horribly cliched double act (speed dating. Aussie tour guides) is actually saved by an elongated Queen routine in which the pair mime a selection of Fred and cos finest and most convenient bits which portray a relationship which once floated boats btit is now all at sea. Otherwise. the act is stranded. (Brian Donaldson) l’li'asant'i' Dome. 556 6550. until 29 Aug (not /5). 9.45pm. £7.50 £8.50t£6 £7).
‘. 1—18 Aug 200:") THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 37