MY COMEDY HERO AL PITCHER
Have you ever seen a comedian try to capture lightning in a bottle? Go and see Phil Kay. I first saw him at the Red Rose Comedy Club in London. I hadn't tried comedy at the time and was greeted by the strange pre-show sight of a bearded and long-haired Jesus-style janitor mopping the club’s floor, ordering my friends and l to lift our feet. It was even stranger to see that very cleaner onstage as the headline act an hour later.
He was incredible, but not all the audience agreed. That night I sat in awe at his risk-taking and innovative improvising. Most comics have tricks to get them out of sticky situations. Phil Kay does not. He simply continues on his freewheeling journey in the hope he can discover the diamond, and for me he always does. He's taught me so much over the years and even became my friend. If you stay original, great moments can be found in any
comedy show.
Yes there’s another more well known P Kay doing comedy and you can quote ‘garlic bread’ all you want, but with my P Kay you only remember the shows for yourself. Trying to explain how he recreated a whole wedding, sang a song for each row as they left or rode a bicycle down a flight of stairs often just gets blank stares as you retell it. Maybe you have been there - but with Phil Kay I don’t want to not be there.
(Interview by Brian Donaldson)
I The Stand. G/gmgou. [Won 23 For); f/to Stand. Etiai.’)t/rgn. Tut) 8-1 For);
Jung/ours, (S/(tsgoti; lit 3/ (‘t’ Sat 28 Feb.
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 Hitlist entry
Glasgow
The Thursday Show The Stand. 33% \Vttttdlttllds Rttttd. llS7ll (ilKl 0055. S..‘~t)piii. [S W7; members £4i. ll' )ou need cheering tip. then this is the line-up tor _\oti. l’otierhotise compete Stisan Morrison introduces .-\listair Barrie. Jarred (‘hristnias and Michael .\lan|e_\ tor a ’l'htirstla} itiglit that's better than The Iii/l.
Edinburgh
Fit 0’ The Giggles @ The Mercat 'l'he Mercat. 28 West .\laitland Street. 22.5 S7 lo. 8.30pm. £5 tt'fii. .-\ chance to see a couple ol~ line (ilasgoxt ('onied} l‘estixal Shosx s before the} head in er to the Weedge ne\t month. This \seek see Patrick Roliitk and his shoxs xlll Hour of Stand-l 'p l‘olloxs ed b} the \sonderlul Mark Nelson telling )‘all to Smile. liiit Son Of.” Biff/t.
38 THE LIST ’9 Few-z" Ma' QC39
Heresy lltt‘ lc‘lx} ll (& ll}dt'. l l: lltttttn t't‘ Street. 225 2022. 0pm. U. .\l(‘ Rick .\lo|land introduces another selection ol comedians releasing the e\ il material the} can't normall} get aua} \sith. .\'ot tor the men nioderatel} easil_\ Ullt‘llthtl.
The Thursday Show The Stantl. 5 York l’lace. 55S ~272. 0pm. [S if; members [4i 'l‘he iiiar\e|lous aiid \er_\ tall. Scott .-\gne\\ hosts this e\ening's lt‘Sll\lllL'\ in his oxsn special “as. He has the pleasure ol' introducing acts sticli as l)a\e .lohns. 'l‘err_\ Saunders. Kim .\lac.-\skill and l)a\c Strong.
Glasgow
Peter Powers l’a\ ilion ’I'lieatre. l2l Rt‘lllic‘ld Sll‘L‘c‘l. 5.52 ltS-lfi. anillptti.
{l l {I} ll}pnotist act ll‘tiltl Potters. \\ ho has been called "the .-\li (i til stage h_\pnosis'. Please note: midnight Sat slltm is ti\ Cl 2 l s tiltl}.
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. l'(i(' Building. 1 l Renlreu Street. (LS-14 S44 (ill-l4. Spin. lirom £12. Anxil Springstein. Josh ”on ie. Alistair Barrie and (‘unis Walker have been nice enough to come all the \Hl} to Scotland tti tell
)ou lots ot jokes lt _\ou go and \satch these iokes. _\oti'll be re\\arded “1”] a \sarin teeling Ilaughtei .iiid l‘oo/t‘t .iiid the chance to dance tiiitil the \see hours .it the alter shots disco thing
The Friday Show llie Stand. ‘1‘ \\tl1\\ll‘|n\l\l{‘i‘j\l‘llxfillldulifils< .\ zllpn] L I” t W. iiieiiibeis {5| See lliti l"
DAM Fine Comedy (lite ( iraiiioton. “ King Stieet. 552 "I" ”put L5 ,lon Stanle} hosts this populat \seekl} night. teattiiing an esei changing line tip ot cttlllt‘tllc talent lt's cheap .is chips. and son iiiight itist lind sotit ne\s l.t\titll'llt‘ coiiiedian
Edinburgh
Jongleurs Comedy Club .loiigletti‘s. ()tiini (‘entie. (iieeiiside Place. llSJ-l S44 (i044 ".45ptii l-ioiii Ll l. (‘oiite and heat the music pla} and the people latigli a la .loiigletiis. \\llll coiiiedians sticli as l’liilliei'to. .lolin \\.iibttrton. Ste\ e Harris and the iiiai\e|lotis ('are} .\lat\ entertaining all
The Friday Show the Stand. 5 York Place. 55S "2‘2 ‘lpiii. t' ll) it“; iiieiiibei‘s L5i. lii‘tice \lortoii looks alter things lllls \seekend as lhe Staiid's charming host. lle's biiiigiiig on the line talents ol l)a\ e .lolins. lerr} Saunders. Kiiii .\lac.-\skil| and |)a\e Strong.
Glasgow
The Bible: The Complete Word of God (Abridged) 'lheati‘e l<ti_\al. 232 Hope Slt'cel. (lS‘l) llfill («i-l", _,‘ illpm, {lo US. 'l'hree cultural i'eiiegades lroiii the Reduced Shakespeare ('oiiipan} la_\ their redtictn e pan s on the holiest ol lititiks.
Peter Powers l’axilioti 'l‘lieati'e. l2l Rc‘llllt‘ld Sll't‘t‘l. .553 ltS-lli. q._5ll[ttlt k iiiidtiiglit. {ll U3.Seel-r12ll_ Jongleurs Comedy Club .lotiglctti‘s. l‘(i(' litiiltling. l l Renlreu Street. US44 S44 llll44. Spin. l'l'ttlll L'l2. See in 2t). Comedy @ The State lllt‘ State Bar. |4S llollaiid Street. 332 2l5‘). ‘lpiii. £5. RL‘SltlL‘lll .\l(' (‘lll'lS llt'tititttllcld NH ”US .lini Park. l’atil Steuai't. Barr} .\lcl)ona|d and the niar\ellotis (iat‘) l.ittle itito the State Bar basement.
The Saturday Show the Stand. 333 \Vtitidlttlids Road. (LS-Ni (illll (ill55. 9pm. £13. See Thu 1‘).
Woodlands Bumper Value Comedy Club l'isge llcatha. 232 246 \Voodlantls Road. 504 I500. ‘lpiii. U» lLJi. .\l(' .-\laii .-\nderson introduces a selection ol' line coined} talent each week. l'or those \\ ho like their \seekend lattglis l'or l'exs er pennies.
Edinburgh An Evening with Tea and Crumpet lltt' lilg Red l)titil‘. lll Lad} l.;t\\ stiii Street. 22S 4507. 7pm. £5 istiggested donation i. ('abaret perloriiiers 'l‘ea and ('rtinipet present an e\ening ol lesti\ities. including a number ol special gttests. \sliich promises the linest in \intage bad taste entertainment.
Craig Hill Brtinton 'l‘heatre.
l.iltl} \\ ell \Va}. \ltisselbtirgh. («i5 224”. 7.3llpni. U45“ t£l2.5lli, Cheek}. ii're\erent and. ol course. \Htlldc‘l‘ltlll} camp. llill's hilarious blend ol stand—tip and musical L‘ttlllc‘tl) has earned him no e l'c‘\ it“ s. Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. ()iiini ('entre. (ii‘eenside Place. ”(S44 S44 0044. 7.45pm. l-roin £1 1. See Hi 20. The Saturday Show The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. ”pm. {I}. See l‘ri 20.
Glasgow
Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand. 333 \Votidl‘ands Road. tisfti (illll (itiSS. S5llpitt. £5 i£4z members U i. Your \teekl} dose ol Redtnond returns. this time \\ ith comedians Jarred Christmas. Michael Manle}. (iarr_\ l)tihst)li. ('hris Forbes and Pauline (ioldsmith.
Edinburgh Whose Lunch is it Anyway?
l‘lte Stand. 5\ork Place. 55.\ "2‘2 lpin \ tine start to .iit atteiizoon. .is iitipiox niasteis Stti and (i.tll_\ take to the podium. \shtpping tip conicds gold out ol audience suggestions I ike t\\o Rtitnix'lstiltskins lllt‘ltSS llitl loud loo
Russell Brand l’lasliotise. l.\ 2.‘
(itt't‘ltSIdt‘ l'lact‘. llb‘ll tillti i424 Spin l’ost lliillsssmxl .iiid post Saclisgate. the lo\etlella “till the tipuaidls mobile liait takes liis shtick hack on the toad The Sunday Night Laugh lllt‘ Stand. 5 \oik Place. 55S 5222 S zllpni :5 H44. nienibcis tli leti'_\ Satindets sta_\s on ltotii the \seekend to entertain the Stinda_\ night clti\\tl\. so iela\ in the sale hands oi coiiipcic lllllct‘ l)e\liii. \\llll Rick} (Lillan. l)eiek Johnston and Stan lle\aii
Glasgow
The Al Pitcher Picture Show llie Sldlltl. Hi \\U(ltll.llltl\ Rlldtl. llbflll Ml“ fill55 .S' .illplll t5 lL-l. iiieiiibeis Ll i llltistrated staiid tip lioiii the labtilotisl} eccentric \l Pitcher. uho'll be pioxing lits ltiiin}. last pacedanecdotes \\llll photographic e\ideiice See .\l_\ (‘oiiieds llt'l'ti.
Edinburgh Fit 0’ The Giggles Absolute Beginners Beeline Init. (iiassiiiatket. .S'piii. [2. Absolute liegiiineis. loiiiieil_\ ol 'lhe Mercat. has totind itsell a ne\\ lioiiie doun in the (irassiiiarket. (io see a selection ol llt'\\ coined} talent iii this L‘tis} night ol laughter and totall) appropriate lo\ e.
Russell Brand l’laslionse. IS 32
(ireeiiside l’lace. llSfill (illh i424 Spin. See Stiii 22. Red Raw ’l’lie Stand. 5 Yoik l’lacc. 55S 7272. S._‘\llpiii. [2 til i. :\ cheap and cheerltil \\;i_\ to see a selection ol llt‘\\ coined} talent. eacli banging otit to e minutes til then linest \sares. \lake bets \kllll _\otir li'tends on \thicli ones at” be good. bad or teai'ltil. Willi .lell ()‘llot lc and 'l'err} Saunders.
Glasgow
Red Raw The Stand. 3 ‘3 Woodlands Road. (ix-ill (illll (ill55. S. illplll. L2 tLl i Scott :\gne\\ and 'l'edd} help along the acts )oti probahl} \ion't hai e seen belore. btit \sho could just be starting on the road to something beatitilttl. lzxen it it's |llsl the road to a realisation that the} 're not \er} ltinn_\.
Edinburgh Hairy Watt Comedy Club the l‘nion. lleriot-\\'att l'nixersit}. Riccaiton. 451 53‘}. 9pm. £4 tUi. ('oiiipei'e Susan ('aliiian introduces the studeitts to the c'lilllt'd} of Vladimir Mc'lausli and Daniel Sloss. The AI Pitcher Picture Show 'l‘lie Stand. 5 York l’lace. 55S 7272. S. illplll. £7 (UH. See Mon 25.
Glasgow Best of Irish The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0370 (>le (i055. S. illpni. £7 (U): members Hi. A concoction ol lrish acts. strung together b} The Stand's resident Irish intiustached-nian: Michael Redmond. With Neil l)otigan. KCHll lla}es. Ror} ()'llanlon and Keith Anderson.
GO Laugh Trader Joe's. 325 Hope Street. 332 4017. 9pm. Another night ol' gratis coined} l'roin the (if) team. this week headed up b} the \er} beard} (irahain Mackie and leaturing the much smoother Rob Katie. with other special guests to be announced.
Edinburgh
Best of Scottish The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £6 (£5; members £3 i. Vladimir Mc'l‘as'ish. one ol