Comedy
PREVIEW STAND-UP STEWART FRANCIS The Stand, Edinburgh, Thu 8–Sat 10, Tue 27 Mar; King’s Theatre, Glasgow, Wed 28 Mar
When he first arrived in the UK, there was a recurring subject that would crop up around any discussion of Canadian comic Stewart Francis: was he aware of the iconic 80s kids show presenter who shared that name and boasted a catchphrase about his ability to physically overwhelm soft fruit? Fairly swiftly, the funnyman from Ontario must have found such chat pretty tedious but now that he has pinned his own personality firmly upon the British cultural map, it must be water off a disinterested duck’s back. ‘Wouldn’t it be something for him to plan a comeback just as I hit the
scene, as if I’ve stolen his thunder?’ muses young man Francis. ‘I should probably YouTube him: there must be a clip of him crushing a grape somewhere. But bless him wherever he is, with people probably saying, “do you know about the other Stewart Francis?” “Of course I do; now do you want fries with that or what?” There’s another Stewart Francis who played American football in Canada, but don’t worry, I’m not going to do a Dave Gorman thing on it.’
Such a task would be very un-Stewart Francis, given that his forte is punching out joke after joke with no objective other than to make his audience laugh themselves into a frenzy. Not for him the comedians who structure shows around a concept or go off on some tale-twisting adventure. ‘I’m distracted by storytellers. I’d heard about the legend that was Bill Hicks and went in with high expectations. But it’s just him pontificating and telling me how it is. I think I’m hired to entertain rather than educate; I’ll let the people who are important to me know how I feel about things.’ The rise of Stewart Francis has been down to different factors. Being
very funny is clearly a positive, but he has also arrived in the UK at a time when the stand-up scene is going through a boom period. Comedy clubs and theatre tours are doing serious business, and shows like Mock the Week, 8 out of 10 Cats and Live at the Apollo have brought acts to the attention of millions who might otherwise have ultimately died not knowing such people ever existed. Francis is a grateful beneficiary of this trend. ‘It’s been a wonderful three or four years for me and it’s down to some TV appearances that have really put me on a lot of people’s radar. I followed that up with what some people would deem to be good comedy. I guess it’s a case of right place right time and being able to parlay 21 years of accumulated material and give that to the people.’ Being invited to support Ricky Gervais on tour couldn’t have been a hindrance either. ‘It was interesting to travel around for the better part of a year in that elite world which he lives in, something I wouldn’t really want to partake in. He’s done incredibly well to have withstood that constant scrutiny. At times, he’s playful as a kitten but there’s also a serious side to the man which goes with being a hi-falutin businessman. I’m a huge fan of The Office so it was nice to be in the presence of genius. His words, not mine.’ (Brian Donaldson)
60 THE LIST 1–29 Mar 2012
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 16 days before publication to comedy@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Kirstyn Smith. ✽✽ Indicates Hitlist entry
Thursday 1
Glasgow Bright Club: Glasgow The Admiral, 72a Waterloo Street, 221 7705. 7.30pm. £3.50 in advance; £4 on the door. An intoxicating blend of comedy and academia. The Thursday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £8 (£7; members £4). Jack O’Kane, Sandy Nelson, Ryan McDonnell and host Bruce Devlin. Edinburgh Worbey & Farrell: Well Strung Brunton Theatre, Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, 665 2240. 7.30pm. £14 (£12; under 18s £6). Musical acrobatics from four hands and one grand piano. We Happy Few Presents . . . The Banshee Labyrinth, 29–35 Niddry Street, 558 8209. 8.30pm. £2. Sketches and stand-up from a host of local comedy legends. The Thursday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £8 (£7; members £4). The Stand Players Stu & Gary show off their improv talents with Kevin Gildea, Phil Differ and host Raymond Mearns. Comedy Academy The Shack, 119 Rose Street, 226 4311. 9.30pm. £3. Comedy newbies taking their first wobbly steps onto the circuit.
Friday 2
Glasgow The Friday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £10 (£9; members £5). See Thu 1 for line-up. Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs, The Glasshouse, 20 Glassford Street, 0870 011 1960. 8.30pm. £15. No frills laughs from Sean Percival with Gerry K, Scott Agnew and Keith Carter as Nige.
Edinburgh The Friday Fix The Voodoo Rooms, 19a West Register Street, 556 7060. 7.30pm. £9. Funny females rule the roost tonight, namely Janey Godley, Susan Morrison and Keara Patricia Murphy, followed by a storming band to end the evening.
✽✽ The Invisible Dot Bedlam Theatre, 11b Bristo Place, 225 9893.
8pm. £12 (£9). The highly innovative comedy promoters unleash a bunch of its acts for a debut UK tour. Appearing on the Edinburgh leg are Jonny Sweet, Sheeps and Nick Mohammed. Friday Night Live The Shack, 119 Rose Street, 226 4311. 8pm. £8. Jojo Sutherland introduces her pick of comedy acts from across the country.
✽✽ Sarah Millican: Thoroughly Modern Millican Edinburgh
Playhouse, 18–22 Greenside Place, 0844 847 1660. 8pm. £21. The Millican phenomenon is heading off on yet another tour of the country. Strictly over 16s. The Beehive Comedy Club Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8.30pm. £5–£7. Ben Verth presents a weekend packed full of top local and visiting comedians to tickle your funny bone in an entirely appropriate way. Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs, Lava Ignite, 3 West Tollcross, 0870 011 1960. 8.30pm. £15. With Kane Brown, Mike Milligan and Andre King. The Friday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £10 (£9; members £5). See Thu 1 for line-up, plus Gordon Smith. The Improverts Bedlam Theatre, 11b Bristo Place, 225 9893. 10.30pm. £5.50 (students £5). Edinburgh Uni’s long- standing improvised comedy troupe.
Saturday 3
Glasgow Comedy @ The State The State Bar, 148 Holland Street, 332 2159. 8.30pm. £7 (£5). The State Bar attracts some of Scotland’s best comedians to its wee basement of joy. Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs, The Glasshouse, 20 Glassford Street, 0870 011 1960. 8.30pm. £15. See Fri 2. The Saturday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 9pm. £15. See Thu 1 for line-up.
Edinburgh ✽✽ Sarah Millican: Thoroughly Modern Millican Edinburgh
Playhouse, 18–22 Greenside Place, 0844 847 1660. 8pm. £21. See Fri 2. Saturday Night Live The Shack, 119 Rose Street, 226 4311. 8pm. £10. See Fri 2. The Beehive Comedy Club Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8.30pm. £5–£7. See Fri 2. Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs, Lava Ignite, 3 West Tollcross, 0870 011 1960. 8.30pm. £15. See Fri 2. The Saturday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £15. See Fri 2 for line-up. Jekyll and Hyde Comedy Club The Jekyll & Hyde, 112 Hanover Street, 225 2022. 9.30pm. £8 (£6). Rick Molland presents a night in a basement with a different line-up every week.
Sunday 4
Glasgow Glasgow Kids Comedy Club The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 3pm. £4. Live comedy for younger fans. No under 5s; all kids must be accompanied by an adult. FREE Fresh Meat The Butterfly and the Pig, 153 Bath Street, 221 7711. 8.30pm. Weekly new material night with six comedians trying out their freshest gags. Edinburgh FREE Whose Lunch Is It Anyway? The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 1.30pm. Paul Graham and Stuart Murphy present another slice of improv action. Sunday Night Laugh-In The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £6 (£5; members £1). Some end-of-the-week comedy with Siân Bevan, Daniel Sloss and Jamie Dalgleish.
Monday 5
Glasgow Frankie Boyle: Work in Progress The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 6pm. £10. Catch Frankie in a warm-up show for his upcoming tour. Joe Heenan’s Movie Madness The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £2. Film geek Joe Heenan presents a night of showing off how much you know about the movies. Edinburgh Comedy Variety Show City Café, 19 Blair Street, 220 0125. 8pm. £3 (£2; £1 if booked in advance through lastminute.com). Weekly new material night where anything goes (as long as it’s funny). The Beehive Comedy Club Newbees Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8pm. £2. New talent and new material night with the occasional old- timer dropping past. Red Raw The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 8.30pm. £2. Weekly showcase for new comics.
Tuesday 6 Glasgow FREE Pop-Up Comedy The Halt Bar, 160 Woodlands Road, 353 6450. 8.30pm. Showcasing some of the Scottish comedy scene’s freshest talent.