SKETCH SHOW REVIEW THE MELTING POT Stand, Glasgow, Wed 30 Jun 00.
More a fine porcelain bedpan than a melting pot, this is a great idea, well realised yet maculate with mediocre writing. A Script Idol of sorts, with the audience choosing a winning sketch from ten contenders, this was a Glasgow grand final for Edinburgh’s monthly heats.
Compered by Susan Morrison, the four-strong cast performed five- minute tasters before a full rendition of the most popular, and despite there being multiple entries from several writers it was still quite enjoyable. The cast — Julie Coombe, John Maclsaac, Derek McGhie and Shonagh Price - were markedly superior to their material. And democracy can always be relied upon to deliver precisely the wrong result, providing delicious personal indignation and ill-focused contempt towards your fellow
electorate.
To redress, ‘Learning to Sail’ by Ben Verth should have won. It had a decent twist and the most developed character. ‘Meeting Her Mum & Dad’ (Dan Winterstein) had the best punchline, while Scando-Terror (Nick Findlay) was a reasonable skit on militant Scandinavians. The winner, Anne Jones’ ‘Brighton Rock’ veered occasionally towards end of the pier stuff, yet there was some well-crafted interplay between its nattering old dears.
(Jay Richardson)
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With you/ own script.
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least ten days before publication to comedy©list.co.uk, by post or by fax on 0131 557 8500. Listings are compiled by Rachael Street.
Thursday 8
Glasgow The Thursday Show The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 (300 (3055. 9pm.
64 THE LIST 4: 1/1}
£(3 (£5). A kick tip tlte weekend it) the hands of ttncompt'otnising cotnpct'c Ray tttottd Mcarns and a hand of trusty cotnedy heroes. including Irishman Michael Smiley. .loc lleenan attd Next l)eal comedian Tony ('arter.
Edinburgh
The Edinburgh Edition The Three Tuns Wine Vaults. 7 Street. 07909 552345. 8pm. £2. Ruthless satire from .lo .lo Sutherland and Andy Sir as they rake throttgh the
comedy@list.co.uk
ll llanoy ct‘
news and gossip at this topical weekly quiz.
Big Word Performance Poetry The Tron. 9 Hunter Square. High Street. 22(3 ()931. 9pm. £3 (£2). [End of season Big Word special with freestyle verse and comedy frotn Richard .‘yledt'ington. Rachel Jury. Ash Dickinson. Jatnin Dee. M(‘ Jenny Lindsay and tnany more besides.
The Thursday Show The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £(3 (£5). lncisiye (ilasyyegian compete l’rankie Boyle rounds tip the talents of har- room hree/er .\'ick Wilty. rapid-fire regular Sttsatt Morrison. (ireg Mcllttgh and smooth stand-up I)an Willis.
The Snatch Social The Liquid Room. ()c Victoria Street. 22.5 35(34. 10.30pm 3am. £4 (£3.50). 1-‘ilth- li\ated disco-cum-caharet competed hy Tony ('arter and Harry Ainsworth. (‘od fttnk and hip hop tunes from Bahes and 'l’t‘endy Wendy (monthly resident).
Glasgow
Bill Bailey Payilion Theatre. 121 Renlicld Street. 33: 184(3. 7.30pm. The Blur/s Him/six still' and .Yt’t't'l‘ .lliml I/It' [fictive/(3y team captain returns with l’url 'I'm/l. his waffle-heavy mttsical estrayagan/a that yy as so popular at last year's tidinhurgh Pestiyal. See panel.
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. t'(i(' Building. Renfrew Street. 08707 870707. 8pm. £12. ('omedians' choice Raymond Mearns shares the stage with Pomtny Johnson. feel-good funny man Brian Higgins and poetic performer (‘urtis Walker. The Stand The Stand. 33.3 \Yoodlantls Road. 0870 (300 (3055. 9pm. £7 (£(3). An international feast of comedy frotn Irish raconteur Michael Smiley. likeahle Scot John Hint. geordie mirth-maker Tony (‘artet' and host Sttsan Morrison.
Edinburgh
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jonglcttrs. ()mni Centre. (ireenside Place. ()8707 870707. 8.15pm. £12. American comic Pattl Proyen/a packs a topical punch in the company of one of the loyeliest men in comedy. Allie Joey. pltts Brendhan l.o\‘egt'oye. Steye Harris and (ieordie crowd-pleaser I)a\'e Johns.
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £7 (£6). ('ocky stand- ttp Nick Wilty headlines at the Stand weekend slot. with comical hacking from (ilasgow hard man Raymond Mearns. (it'eg Mcllttgh. 1)an Willis and ra/or-sharp host Jane Mackay.
Saturday 10
Glasgow
Madcap Comedy Club The State Bar. 148 llolland Street. 332 2159. 8.30pm. £5 (£4). Local comedian Parrot flies in to headline this laughter— fest at the earlier time of 8.30pm. with support frotn Bruce l‘ttmmey. .\'ei| Macfat'lane and cra/y compete Billy Bonkers.
Jongleurs Comedy Club .longleurs. t’(i(’ Building. chft'ew Street. 08707 870707. spin. £13. See Thu 8.
The Stand The Stand. 333 \Yootllands Road. 0870 (300 (3055. 9pm. £8. See Hi 9 htil with host Jane Mackay.
The Vault Comedy Club The Vault. l l 10 Pollokshaws Road. (349 ()007. 9pm. £7. Spiky stand-up Parrot hosts this comedy night packed with top Scottiin comedy totty. including l)es McLean. John McBride and Bill Dewar.
Edinburgh Jongleurs Comedy Club
Jonglettrs. ()tnni (‘entre. (irecnside
Place. 08707 870707. 8.15pm. £13. See Fri 9.
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £8. See Fri 9. although Susan Morrison takes over as compere.
Glenrothes
Capital ComedyGRothes Halls Rothes Halls. Kingdom Centre. 07909 552 345. 9pm. £5. (‘omedy capers with Paul Pirie. Keir McAllister. Andy Sir. Peter Aitchison. headliner Vladimir Mc'l’ayish and M(‘ Jonathan Mayor.
Glasgow
Disposable Theatre The Vault.
1 1 10 Pollokshaws Road. (349 0007. 8pm. £4. Bi-monthly comedy impt'oy night featuring sketches. games and short theatre from the Disposable 'l'heatt'e ('ompany troupe. formerly hased at the (‘aptain's Rest on (ircat Western Road.
Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand. 333 \Yoodlands Road. 0870 (300 (3055. 8.30pm. £4 (£3). Perth's lop funny man Joe lleenan joins Jo Jo Sutherland. host Michael Redmond and other gttests for more Sunday night comedy capers.
Edinburgh
Whose Lunch is it Anyway? The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 1pm. liree. l’reestyle laughter gut‘tis Paul (irahatn and Stuart Murphy take to the stage w ith their unique brand of comedy hangover cttre. Free (form) cotnedy doesn‘t get tnuch hetter than this.
Bruce’s Sunday Social Club The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £4 (£3). Delightfully catnp host Bruce l)e\‘lin introduces local comedy wonder-hoy John Hint. (ireg Mclltigh and other stand-up guests.
Pentoutk
Capital Comedy: Off the Tracks The Railway Tavern. 12 High Street. 07909 552 345. 4pm. £5. linjoy an afternoon of jokes and japes with M(‘ Ashley 1"rie/e. fl‘iy'oIoUs headliner Jonathon Mayor and more.
Glasgow
Dance, Monkey Boy, Dance The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 (300 (3055. 8.30pm. £4. Scottish comedy handits Sandy Nelson. Raymond Mearns. Joe l-leenan and Des McLean show the world what can he done with the aid of a piano. a guitar and a big slice of imagination. Gagging For It The Vault. l 1 l0 Pollokshaws Road. (349 ()()07. 9pm. 1-‘ree. (‘omedy social night with compere I)a\'id lleffron. featuring plenty of new acts and regulars from the comedy circuit to tickle those funny hones on a Monday ttighl.
Edinburgh
Red Raw The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £1. The Stand throws open its doors (and arms) for this regular stand-up heginner's night. hosted by Nick l)ayies and with headliner (ireg Mcllttgh.
Tuesday 1 3
Glasgow
Red Raw The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 (300 (3055. 8.30pm. £2. :\ handfttl of stand-up Virgins are pttl through their comedy paces. with support frotn a mystery compere and headliner from the Scottish circuit.
Edinburgh
Fringe Festival Show Preview The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8pm. £5 (£4). (irah a slice of the early action at non-festiy'al prices. as Tap