COMEDY
comedy
HsUngs
Comedy is listed by date, then by
city. Shows will be listed, providing
that details reach our offices at least
ten da in advance of publication.
gornde y listings compiled by Simone air .
THURSDAY 5 Glasgow Cabaret Sauvignon Ramshorn Theatre. 98 Ingram Street. 552 3489. 11pm. £5 (£2.50). Vintage songs. poems and stories by the gods and godesses of gay glam. from Sappho through to Oscar Wilde and Noel Coward. With music by Robyn Archer. Parr ofGlas 'ay.’ Cheshire Cat Come y Club Waxy's. 20 Candlenggs. 552 8717. 9.30pm (doors open 9pm). Free. Weekly. Compere Raymond Mearns introduces headliner Viv Gee. plus Rutherford & Mearson and support. Cosy Comedy Cafe State Bar (downstairs). I48 Holland Street. Charing Cross. 332 2159. 9.30pm (doors open 8.30pm). £4 (£3). Weekly comedy night organised and compered by Billy Bonkers. Guests tonight are Janey Godley and Brian Hennigan plus open spots. Mischief Le Bar Cathedral House Hotel. 28 Cathedral Square. 552 3519. From 7pm. Free. Wild and weird bartending action every Thursday. Friday and Saturday from the Irascible Tattoo-Faced Nomads and other ‘manifestations' of Glasgow’s uniquely strange comedy performance troupe Mischief Le Bas.
Edinburgh
Christie’s Comedy Cellar WJ. Christie‘s. 228 3765. 9pm. £4 (£3). Stand-up comedy from Joe Heenan. who presents Glasgow psychic Madam Moo Moo. Kevin Spence and Richard Simpson.
The Stand 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8pm.
Ardal O'Hanlon: 'stand-up is a gladiator sport’
my audience would accept me coming on and doing scatter-shot ranting for an hour.‘
This turbulent
priest
Irishman, novelist and star of Father Ted, ARDAL O'HANLON is not quite the softy you might think. Words: Rob Fraser Some comics struggle with material. but Ardal O‘HanIon struck a rich vein when he structured much of his last touring set around a consuming hatred of Michael Flatley. As the Lord of the Dance’s life becomes ever more ludicrous. so his nemesis is
: provided with priceless ammunition. ‘He wants to
take up boxing.‘ is ()‘Hanlon‘s opening jab. ‘I think
he‘s got a death wish. He‘s been trapped in those ; dancing shoes for years. and now he just wants to be
pummelled. Not that I‘ll be lining up to do the pummelling. because he terrifies me.
‘The latest thing I heard was about his carpet — I‘m an authority on his life and work so I‘m the person to ask. Apparently. his carpet has a giant picture of his head on it. like wall-to-wall in the front room. When you go round his house you‘re standing on the man’s head. That can‘t be healthy.‘
This mixture of bewilderment and righteous anger characterises ()‘Hanlon the stand-up. and he seems a little annoyed that the harder edge of his comedy doesn't receive enough recognition. ‘I actually think there are a lot of people who write about comedy who think that unless you‘re Bill Hicks you’re not worth their consideration.‘ he says. ‘But I do satirical things and political things. Ijust do them my own way. I still get across what I‘m trying to say. and I don‘t think
'Michael Flatley's got a death wish. He just wants to be pummelled. Not that I'll be doing the pummelling, because he terrifies me.’ Ardal O'Hanlon
The moon-faced gagmeister clearly puts a lot of thought into the amorphous body that constitutes his audience. ‘I know people wouldn’t come to the show ifI hadn’t done Father Ted.’ he says. ‘I know they’ve all bought the videos. so they like me when they arrive. but there’s a different kind of pressure you feel in the theatres. It’s a special occasion for the audience. In a lot of cases it might be the first time they‘ve ever set foot in a theatre. so you’ve to build on that sense of expectation. or they won’t come back again.‘
The sense of a performer’s responsibility to the punters permeates O‘Hanlon’s approach to preparing routines. ‘I script my shows and I always have.’ he reveals. ‘I‘m a huge fan of Phil Kay. but I think he’s the exception. You should really save the improvisation for your house. If someone’s bought a ticket. you‘d better have something worth showing. If the gig’s going well. and a joke suddenly comes to you: fantastic. That‘s a sign of a good show. but I‘d never rely on that.‘
With a tour. a well received first novel and an immortality-guaranteeing sitcom under his belt, does O’Hanlon ever feel the need to look over his shoulder at the competition? ‘You meet some people on the circuit who are rabidly ambitious. and I’m not like that.‘ is his reply. ‘Dylan Moran’s a good friend. and I’m pleased to see him doing so well. I’m not sat at home thinking he’s after my job. Having said that. I do think of stand-up as a gladiatorial sport.’
Expect nothing but thumbs-up signals when Spartacus O’Hanlon hits Scotland.
Edinburgh: Queen's Hall, Wed 18 Nov. Glasgow: Pavilion Theatre, Fri 20 Nov.
£4 (£3). A night of stand-up comedy hosted by Joon Broon. with Richard Allen. Dougie Dunlop. Adie C and a Stand debut for Frank Quinn.
Tartan Tantrum Comedy Club The Canon’s Gait. Canongate. 8pm. £5 (£4). Fortnightly. Dave Williams. David Kay.
Colin Rarnone and Reg Anderson. Hosted
by Lee Ness. Interested acts should call 01383 850938.
FRIDAY 6
Glasgow
Cabaret Sauvignon Ramsborn Theatre.
98 Ingram Street. 552 3489. llpm. £5 (£2.50). See above. Thu 5. Part of Glas ’uy.’
Misc ief Le Bar Cathedral House Hotel.
28 Cathedral Square. 552 3519. From 7pm. Free. See above. Thu 5. Edinburgh
The Stand 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8pm.
£5 (£4). Susan Morrison comperes a night with guests Steve Gribbin. Dougie Dunlop and Adie C. plus a Stand debut for Reginald D. Hunter.
Tartan Tantrum Comedy Club Tron Ceilidh House. 9 Hunter Square. 226 0931. Information: 558 8178. 8pm. £5 (£4). Fortnightly. Guests tonight are
David Kay. Colin Ramone. Reg Anderson
and Benny Esposito. compered by Lee Ness. Interested acts should call 01383 850938.
SATURDAY 7
Glasgow Cosy Comedy Cafe State Bar
(downstairs). 148 Holland Street. Charing
Cross. 332 2159. 9.30 (doors open
8.30pm). £5 (£4). Weekly. Billy Bonkers comperes. Guests tonight are Noel James
from Wales. Neil Shackleton from Manchester and Scotsman Bill Dewar.
Continued over page
S—l9 Nov 1998 THEU3T75