listings
J'
COMEDY VIDEO That Phil Kay Video
(15) 52 mins area
The first thing that needs to be said about comedy videos is that they can never quite be the real thing. Any stand-up, regardless of who, is always funnier in the flesh. The communal atmosphere of being part of an audience enhances the humour and the immediacy of the event is tangible. We might particularly say this of The Li'st’s own columnist Phil Kay, whose particular brand of spontaneous, frenetic energy is all about stage presence. That said, this is a surprisingly
entertaining bit of tape.
The cameras of Colour TV follow Kay through a succession of gigs, as far apart as Barbados and Barnsley, and manage to capture a number of these sudden moments of brilliant improvisation. Kay’s humour is so wide and variant that it’s impossible to account for both its range and effect. From the time Kay loses his trousers doing a can-can with an audience member, to the couple of minutes he spends demonstrating the versatility of phlegm, it’s the unpredictable nature of Kay’s improvisations that grabs the attention.
Between the gigs, there are some intrigumg backstage insights. It's no surprise to anyone who has seen Kay that his periods of writing material are fairly perfunctory. It's very clear that the real comedy happens while the audience is there. More interesting is a brief and Surreal section shot in Glasgow, where Kay walks the streets adding commentary to everyday life. There are also brief snapshots of the life of a touring comic which retain their own interest. On the whole, this is the next best thing to seeing the man in person.
(Colour TV Productions £12.99) (Steve Cramer)
The Stand The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 08706006055. 8.30pm. £5 (£4). The aptly named Jack Russell goes straight for the funny bones. Mothenvell's Mark Bratchpiece and Nick Findlay provide the comedy backing. while Frankie Boyle comperes. Canvas Comedy Club Canvas. 13-16 Walls Street. 333 1418. 9pm. £5. Young lrish comedian Andrew Maxwell takes the top slot with support from John McGuinness, plus Lucy Porter and compere Craig Crookston.
Edinburgh
The Stand The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £4 (£3). Boisterous banter from Craig Campbell with support from Susan Murray, Miles Jupp and host Joon Broon.
Glasgow
The Comedyshop@0ffshore Offshore, 3—5 Gibson Street, 07714 900720. 8pm. £5 (£4). Back by popular demand and now in a new prime time Friday night slot, Offshore reopens its doors to the comedy-going public. Prepare yourself for an evening of merriment with Richard Smith and guests Steven Dick and Scott Agnew. The Stand The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, ()870 600 6055. 9pm. £6 (£5). Pulling out all the comedy stops tonight are Craig Campbell, John Flint and Susan Murray. Jane Mackay comperes. Madcap Comedy Club@The Tron Theatre Studio The Tron Studio, 109 Trongate, 552 (1443. 9pm. £5. Chirpy humour from Parrot as he flies solo with a 90-minute solo show.
Canvas Comedy Club Canvas, 13—16 Walls Street, 333 1418. 9pm. £5. Andrew Maxwell returns for a second night, this time with support from James Campbell, Richard Allen and host Raymond Mearns.
Edinburgh
Elaine C. Smith is Hormonally Driven Brunton Theatre, Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, 665 2240. 7.30pm. £10.50 (£8). The Glasgow gal returns to the stage for another night of observational wit and song. Suitably charged following her recent TV show Elaine, Rab C’s missus aims to answer the burning questions of the new millennium.
Scruffy Murphy's One Comedy Night Scruffy Murphy ’s, 49/50 George [V Bridge, 225 1681. 8pm. Free. Resident host Reg Anderson welcomes two regulars from the local stand-up circuit. The Stand The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £6 (£5). Snappy humour from Jack Russell, who is joined on stage for some maniacal mirth by Frankie Boyle and compere Joon Broon.
Cumbernauld
Madcap Comedy Club At Cumbernauld Theatre Cumbernauld Theatre, Kildrum, 01236 732887. 8pm. £3.50. Dave Williams keeps the comic cracks coming, with an appearance from Lee Ness and resident MC Billy Bonkers.
Livingston
West Laugh llowden Park Centre, Howden. 01506 433634. 9pm. £5
THURSDAY 16
Glasgow
The Comedy Jam Queen Margaret Union. 22 University Gardens. 339 9784. 8pm. £3 (£2). Glasgow Uni plays host to another comedy club, this tithe
70 THE LIST 16—30 Nov 2000
brought to you by the Glasgow University Open Mic Society. The opening night features regulars on the comedy scene Des Clarke, Neil
7 McFarlane, Ed Hammill, plus open
spots, musical comedy and
1 improvisation.
(£3.50). If you’re suffering withdrawal symptoms from your monthly fix ofThe Useless Guide To Scotland, then head to
Livingston to see Mr Dewar and Mr liennigan alongside other stars of the Scottish comedy circuit including Joon Broon. Fin and Marie McArthur and
i Sheridan Strawberry.
comedy@list.co.uk
SATURDAY 18
Glasgow
Canvas Comedy Club Canvas, 13—l6 Walls Street, 333 1418. 9pm. £5. Dave Williams is the main purveyor of patter with support from Des McLean and Rev Obediah Steppenwolfe lll. Janey Godley comperes.
The Stand The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. 9pm. £7 (£5). See Fri 17.
Madcap Comedy Club The State Bar, 148 Holland Street, 332 2159. 9.30pm. £5 (£4). Drew Barr gets the gags in with Richard Smith, Colin Elves and resident host Billy Bonkers.
Edinburgh The Stand The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £7 (£4). See Fri 17.
Stirling
Phil Kay MacRobert, University of Stirling, 01786 461081. 8pm. £10 (£8). Venture into the surreal world of Phil Kay fora night of eccentric endeavours and improv innovation.
Glasgow
Second Comedy Class Showcase The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, ()870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £3 (£2). New comedy night showcasing the best of new stand- up talent, introduced by John Gordon and with guests Jack Russell and Miles Jupp.
The Vigorous Lime Quiz of Joy Curlers, 256 Byres Road, 338 6511. 8.30pm. Free. A combination of live comedy and a pub quiz, and as their catch-phrase puts it, there’s ‘all of the goodness and none of the evil’. With a crate of beer as first prize, you can’t lose.
The Comic Club Blackfriars, 36 Bell Street, 552 5924. 9pm. £5 (£4). Des McLean is the main purveyor of patter, Bill Bruce and Cormac Quinn support and James Campbell takes control of the
Edinburgh
Whose Lunch Is It Anyway? The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 1pm. Free with drinks or a meal. Freestyle funniness from resident duo Paul and Stuart.
Six On Sunday The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £3 (£2). Graeme Thomas takes the compering honours and welcomes Susan Murray, Brandon Reed and John Sinclair to the stage.
Kirkcaldy
Fife Comedy Club Path Tavern, Mid Street, (11592 263671. 8.30pm. £4 (£3). Canada’s Craig Campbell takes charge of the laughter quotient, support acts Mark Bratchpiece and Steven Dick lighten his load, plus there’s one open spot.
MONDAY 20
Glasgow
The Crazy Ape Comedy Club Bar Zoo, 80 Dumbarton Road, 334 8012. 8pm. £4 (£3). No nonsense stand-up from headliner Raymond Mearns, who is joined on stage by Steven Dick, Neil McFarlane and compere Jamie Robinson. As usual, there’s three open spots up for grabs.
Edinburgh
Red Raw The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £1. Comedy old-timers Reg Anderson and Colin Ramone show the stand-up new-borns how it’s done. At only a quid, what better way to start the week?