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HITLIST THE BEST COMEDY EVENTS
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✽ Brendon Burns The Aussie comic has been toning down the brashness in recent
times, but he’s still a livewire performer with some solid stories to tell. The Stand, Glasgow, Thu 14–Sat 16 Nov.
✽ Jason Byrne Ireland’s human Duracell kicks it into overdrive with his Special Eye. See preview, left. Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Sat 16 Nov.
✽ Glenn Wool Is the stand-up touring
game just for the twentysomethings? The Canadian-Estonian comic, who feels he is partially Scottish, has some tales to spin for you on that very topic. The Stand, Glasgow, Sat 23 Nov.
✽ Keith Farnan The Irish comic with a heart of gold delivers some funnies for
those keen on intelligent fun. The Stand, Glasgow, Wed 27 Nov; The Stand, Edinburgh, Thu 28–Sat 30 Nov.
✽ Jo Caulfield Presents . . . The
Speakeasy Another wildly eclectic Speakeasy bill includes Glasgow comic Janey Godley, Edinburgh stand-up Gareth Waugh,
and dancer-actor-storyteller Eva O’Conner, with proceedings all held together by the inimitable Caulfield. Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh, Tue 10 Dec.
✽ Bill Burr The acclaimed US comic and actor (he was in Breaking Bad and Date
Night for two) pops by for a rare Scottish appearance. He’s one of those comedians that other comedians love, so get with the programme, people. O2 Academy, Glasgow, Wed 4 Dec.
JASON BYRNE Madcap improvisational Irish comedian back where he belongs
If ever there was proof that some people should stick to what they do best, then Beeb sitcom Father Figure is Exhibit A. Showered with reviews that made Ben Elton’s The Wright Way seem like a critical triumph, Jason Byrne’s debut attempt at replicating his glorious stage success on screen will surely put other stand-ups off dipping their toes in studio-based sitcoms.
While Father Figure had the essential Byrne ingredients of stupidity and mayhem, it’s clear that this kind of thing simply works better for him in a live environment. When we first reviewed this Irishman way back in the mists of 1997, performing a spilt set with Tommy Tiernan (another brilliant stand-up whose own sitcom experience, Small Potatoes, was less than glorious), we
52 THE LIST 14 Nov–12 Dec 2013
said that ‘if you’re not on the floor laughing, you’re probably dead’. Rather kindly, this quote ran on his publicity material for several years, but it wouldn’t be especially long until plenty of fresh plaudits were being whacked onto his posters. Now, he’s one of the biggest draws in the country, playing large spaces and showing that he’s still among the best in the business at this whole improvsiation/ audience interaction game. With Special Eye, Byrne dips into his childhood to discuss how parenting techniques have evolved, references his own lazy peeper and indulges in some hot Space Hopper action. Prepare to get bouncing, Glasgow. (Brian Donaldson)
Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Sat 16 Nov.