STAND-UP JIMMY CARR
Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Thu 24 Apr
Some people out there have looked upon his stand-up and TV work and judged Jimmy Carr to be a smug, self-satisfied posh guy who would undoubtedly be prepared to eat himself were he comprised of the finest Belgian chocolate. They may be surprised to hear that Carr actually appears less than enamoured with himself: ‘I’m a fat faced quirk,’ he tells me while wondering just why American audiences have taken him to their hearts over the last couple of phenomenally successful years. ‘I’m not Eddie lzzard and I’m not Billy Connolly; I’ll never be that and that’s fine. I think I’ve proved beyond reasonable doubt that I’m a triumph of hard work
over talent.’
Harsh words again, surely? Yet this man, who gained a degree in Social and Political Science and worked in marketing for Shell before taking on a stand-up career, clearly has a stamina for work which many of his peers must envy. ‘l’m not part of a movement or a scene. I’m happy to say I’m merely trying to entertain people. The thing that the old school had in common with the alternative scene was that they both had a strong political agenda. Bernard Manning believed that everyone thought like him and it was a mission statement. That’s a point of view and it’s incorrect, erroneous and ludicrous. Alternative comedy’s point of view was that everyone needs to be respected equally. Well, my job is to make people laugh; I have political views but I’m not foisting them on anyone else.’
(Brian Donaldson)
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to comedy@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Sian Bevan. Indicates Listpicks entry
Glasgow Jimmy Carr Royal (‘oncert Hall. 3 Sauchiehall Street. 553 8000. 8pm. £30. The spicy posh lad does his Repeal (Illi'iitlt'i' thing all oy‘er again. See preview. The Thursday Show The Stand. 333 \Voodlands Road. 0870 000 0055. 8.30pm. £7 (£0; £3 members). Sean
Perciyal and Barry McDonald perl'orm with the simply loyely deat' comedian Stey c Day. while wee Susan ‘I)on't Mention the War‘ (‘alman competes.
Edinburgh
lmprobabble The ()uthouse. 13a
Broughton Street lane. 557 (i008. 8.l5pm.
£3 t£l ). The lmprobabble crew are
descending upon lidinburgh. bringing their
energetic improy ised comedy m er to The ()uthouse. Bring some good ideas. they tnight just ask you tor a suggestion. Heresy The Jekyll tk llyde. I I3 llanm er Street. 335 3033. 0pm. £5. Rick Molland's den of inequity welcomes another load of comedians unleashing the darkest pieces ot‘ tnaterial they can think ol'.
The Thursday Show The Stand.
5 York Place. 558 7373. 0pm. £7 (£6: £3 members). M(‘ Susan Morrison brings on (iordon Alexander. Derek Johnston and Neil Macl‘arlane. all ol~ whom will one day hope to follow in the footsteps of headliner Bruce Morton and be dubbed ‘the (iodl'athcr of Scottish colnedy.‘
Glasgow
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. l'(i(‘ Building. l l Renl‘rew Street. 0870 787 0707. 8pm. £ 1 3. Another weekend at Jongleurs express: with comedy. decent l'ood. ladies in sparkly tops and a bit ol‘ dancing afterwards. Tonight's stand-up entertainment comes l'rom Pierre llollins and Junior Simpson.
The Stand The Stand. 333 Wotxllands Road. 0870 600 0055. 8.30pm. £9 (£8: £5 members). Susan Morrison is this weekend's train conductor tor the trip to comedy land l‘eaturing Sean Perciyal. Steye [)ay. (‘harlie Ross and Barry McDonald. All aboard. etc.
Edinburgh
The Stand The Stand. 5 York
Place. 558 7373. 0pm. £0 (£8: £5 members). Well worth popping down to York Place this weekend. as M(' Stisan ('alman introduces a line line-up headed by the legendary Richard Herring. Also appearing are Neil Macl‘arlane. Keith l‘arnan and Gordon Alexander.
Glasgow
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. l'(i(' Building. l l Renlrew Street. 0870 7870707. 8pm. £l5. See Fri 35. Comedy @ The State The State Bar. 148 llolland Street. 333 3l5‘). ()pm. £5. Regular compere ('hris Broomlield brings forth the talents ol‘ Billy Kirkwood and Key Rook with a grand night olcomedy in a basement tor a mere liyer.
The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 (300 ()055. 9pm. £13. See liri
is
Edinburgh The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7373. 0pm. £I3. Sec liri
Glasgow
Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand. 555 Woodlands Road. 0870 000 (i055. 8.30pm. £5 (£4; £l members). A gentle night of wit to linish your week. from regular host Michael Redmond. He presents (iraeme Thomas. (‘harlie Ross and a collection of newer comedians to tickle your lancy‘.
Edinburgh
Whose Lunch is it Anyway? The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7373. lpm. Stu and (iarry. the resident tittpl't)\’-gttt’lts at the Stand. treat you to sortie tree improyised comedy t'un. With hot t‘ood ayailable. you can stretch out the weekend that little bit further. The Sunday Night Laugh-In The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7373. 8.30pm. £5 (£4: £l members). Steye Day pert‘orms with Keith l-‘arnan. 'l‘il‘l‘any' Stey'enson. Derek Johnston and Michael Adatns. T'is all hosted by til/bomb Billy Kirkwood.
Glasgow
Magners Comedy Monday Mc(‘huills. 40 High Street. 553 3 l 35. 8.15pm. £3 (£1 ). lmprobabble cheer tip Mondays in (ilasilhw with sortie ot‘ their quick-w itted. improy ised .iapes. ('omc ready with suggestions.
Dance, Monkey Boy, Dance The Stand. 55.5 \Ytitnllttnds Road. 0870 000 (i055. 8.30pm. £4. Stand-up. sketches arid imprm ised toml‘oolery from Raymond
Bruce Morton The grand old guy of Scottish comedy shows the youngsters how it's done. The Stand, Edinburgh, Thu 24 Apr.
Jimmy Carr Coming back at yOu time and again. the Channel 4 lad's Repeat Offender scrapes pretty close to the knuckle. See preview. Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Thu 24 Apr.
Richard Herring He may now be in his 40th year. but Stewart Lee's former comedy compadre shows little sign of giving in to the vagaries of ageing. The Stand. Edinburgh, Fri 25 & Sat 26 Apr.
Ani Mru Mru A Polish night of comedy. In Polish. Probably needs to be translated to be believed. Queen '3 Hall, Edinburgh, Sun 4 May.
Nick Doody Swiping the smirk off the face of religion. hypocrisy and religious hypocrisy is Bill Hicks' former UK tour partner. See 5 Things. The Stand. Glasgow, Thu 8 May.
Mearns. Paul Pirie and Allen Chalmers: what else could you possibly want'.’
Edinburgh
Fit 0’ The Giggles Absolute Beginners The Mercat. 38 West Maitland Street. 335 3801. 8pm. £3. A weekly dose ot‘ supportiy e new comedy. headed up by Keat'a Murphy. 'l'here's lood ayailable at the gig. btit it you laugh too much please choke on your chips quietly.
Red Raw The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7373. 8.30pm. £3. A spring-time Red Raw t'or blooming new comedians. and a chance to pick out the weeds. Topped oil with professional comedians Billy Kirkwood and Keith liarnan.
Glasgow
Red Raw The Stand. 55.5 Woodlands Road. 0870 000 0055. 8.30pm. £3 t£l members). Keith l‘arnan is on hand to help newer acts break into the comedy industry. with millions ol‘ people on the bill so there’s something for e\ eryone. Probably.
Edinburgh
Hairy Watt Comedy Club lleriot-Watt l‘niyersity l'nion. Riccarton. 45! 5333. 8pm. £4 l£3). Stisan (‘alman hosts this night. where normal people are im itcd to lauin among the students. Also pet't’orming are Patrick Rolink and Scott Agnew. Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. ()mni (l‘llll‘t‘. (it't‘t‘ltsttlt‘ Place. 08707 870707. 8.l5pm. £l4. (‘omedy t'i'om Silky. Keith l-arnan. Rob Deering and the magical Mandy Knight. The ticket includes entry to the altershow club. in case you're feeling t‘\lt';t hutiglt‘llt‘ttttls.
.‘-1 Apr .‘3 Max 3'00.“ THE LIST 43