HIT THE ROAD MACK TOUR

EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE

Tuesday 11th November 2014

Lee Mack… like a good wine, his shows only get better with time !!!  With a packed Edinburgh Playhouse the stage was set for what was going be a roller-coaster night of raw Stand Up Comedy.  Forget what we know about Lee Mack, this is a new show packed with energy, grace, imagination,  love and sex,  jokes relating to the everyday tit-bits of daily-life that really split the sides! Delivered with power and passion, with plenty of audience participation, the crowd were hooked, as from the first words that rolled off Lee’s ingenious tongue, to very last, the laughs just kept on coming.

This is a comedian that enjoys bringing the audience into his world and running riot with them;  seated in the front row we were under his spell but our Scottish accents proved too much for him, being a Lancashire lad he found understanding us a real challenge. Still, that didn’t stop him from carrying on regardless, unleashing on a delighted audience his highly infectious presence and energy. His show is well written, well thought-out and runs along nicely.  Lee is not just a comedian he is an inspiration.  We all went looking to be entertained and have a night full of laughter, and that is exactly what we got, while we lucky ones on the front row got the added bonus of an occasional mouth spraying.

I loved this show and have never laughed so much, leaving the Edinburgh Playhouse on a high and with one certain thought in my mind – that I will certainly return to see Lee Mack next time he graces us with his presence in Edinburgh.  Good luck with the rest of the tour. FIVE STARS

Reviewer: Spud

The Stand

7th & 9th Nov

This week at the stand it’s… interesting. Ben Verth is quite attractive, so when he spends half his set talking about the abuse he’s received on account of his ungodly ugliness and whale like proportions, it’s pretty hard to buy, although his pube-based chat is genuinely brilliant, and there are a lot of big laughs. All in all a pretty solid opener. On the way out of the gig a mutual pal introduces us. “Are you the reviewer?” he says, I nod and go to hug “hi.”

“I’m not giving you a hug unless I know if I got a good review.”

Now, I don’t think it’s mannerly to divulge this sort of information, so I declined the conditional cuddle politely… but the guy clearly has something worth developing, the Mumble has had good things to say about Ben in the past, and they’re not wrong.

At least Ben Verth’s fat jokes are at his own expense, and often genuinely witty. Phil Nichol does what was probably two minutes but felt like forever to me on just how fat one particular fat woman is: has her own orbit,  is a key cause of African famine. Blah. Then he does a bit about how all women are completely neurotic about their appearance. Then he does a joke about what a drag it is being obligated to tell your girlfriend she’s beautiful, while secretly dying to whip out the scalpel and shear off her many imperfections. Don’t get me wrong, LOTS of people laugh, but when they do, it makes me feel worse about humanity. Then he sings a song about political correctness has gone mad, in which he lists racial stereotypes while impersonating a variety of famous musicians.

This is followed by an animated rendition of ‘The Only Gay Eskimo” replete with vigorous thrusting at the audience. I think I understand how it was that a man like Ben Elton once became radical. About a quarter of Phil’s act is basically bullying a man in the audience by implying that he was going to have non-consensual sex with him. Some people were uncomfortable with this – I’d say a fifth of the audience. A lot of folk were loving the crap out of it. It was what they were there for. A classroom wide-o who’s managed to make it pay can probably be quite diverting if you don’t dwell too deeply on the dodgy race stuff, and gender stuff, and sexuality stuff. Comedy about racism, for example, can be brilliant, but not when the joke is at the expense of the folk already at the raw end of the deal.  Of course, many people love to revel in a comedian who genuinely doesn’t give a fuck about that stuff. I like people who do. It’s a taste thing. If Phil were a back in the classroom today, he’d be given Ritalin. And his mum would benefit from some too, to help block out the incessant screaming.

Kate Dillon has the charm and assured delivery of a much more experienced comic. The pace is quick and her mixture of genuine self-deprecation and mischieviousness endears the audience, as, unexpectedly, does her story about dogging, which she magically turns into the SWEETEST discussion. Lovable, convincing and with a knack for unexpected twists, Stewart is one to watch.

Compere Stu Murphy held a disparate and mouthy crowd together admirably, and is that most generous sort of MC who sets himself up as the audience’s fall guy,  letting the crowd produce a lot of the laughs. He generates both a brilliant atmosphere and consistently enjoyable banter off-the-cuff at a rate of knots.. I love him most for introducing the guest spot, a friend of his, Andrea Hubert, who is unashamedly posh, unabashedly clever and unapologetically brilliant.

She’s really exciting to watch, her delivery is so assured and her material such smart, thought-provoking stuff. There is stuff about race here, stuff about abortion, and it’s not just funny, it feels like necessary, original thought. Her stuff about depression is hilarious, which given the subject matter is pretty impressive. Her act crackles with acerbic energy and defiance; it feels like watching something fresh and new happening. One to watch.

Reviewer : Katie Craig

The Stand, Glasgow

Show starts 21.00

The beauty about the Thursday Show at The Stand is that the line-up repeats itself for the Saturday Show two days later; an iPlayer for lovers of live comedy, if you will. Tonight’s show offered its expected well-selected farrago of treats inside the Woodlands Road venue, compered by the hardest-working beard in the business, Martin Mor. The enthusiasm from our Irish host was infectious and he quickly endeared himself to the audience after snagging a pair of glasses in the afore-mentioned beard, exhibiting a frenetic application not too dissimilar from the evening’s headline act.

Opening performer of the night Julia Sutherland indulged the crowd with personal experiences ranging from weight loss to working within the media. Initially, Sutherland appeared a little tense, back firmly pressed against the infamous Stand logo on the wall behind her. However, with confidence growing and laughs scattered around the crammed venue, it was her regaled yarns about working as a life model which earned her most considerable laughs – and left the word “seepage” dripping in our ears.

The second segment of the evening was split between Glaswegian Richard Hunter and East Londoner Quincy. Hunter’s deadpan delivery was executed expertly, toying with the comedy of his own name to issues such as internet dating sites and marriage. It would not be unfair to compare Hunter’s straight-faced idiosyncrasies being on a par with a young Jack Dee. This was swiftly followed by the charismatic Quincy enforcing his well-rounded and polished personality quickly on the crowd. This set was split into two – the former segment surrounding his sons’ footprint on the world thus far – and latterly, dealing with relationships and parenthood. There was a relaxed and sanguine delivery by a genuine performer with whom the audience instantly connected with.

Prior to his new “Off The Hook” tour across the UK in 2015, the endlessly-endearing Dylan Moran bookended the night in typical, capital ramshackle form. As Moran described himself as a “middle class, white, boring, bumbling fuckwit”, the crowd lapped up his inscrutable kidney of comedy, and despite an unfortunate incident whereby a member of the audience made Moran lose his train of thought, it was mercifully turned in Moran’s favour as he listed varying accounts concerning loss of memory and energy as time takes its toll. With a firm ‘home’ support, Moran settled in quickly to anarchic maunder about politics, without dislodging the connection he had with the audience – no mean feat on a Thursday student night. It is difficult to pinpoint jokes within Moran’s set and a far more easier feat to settle into his spirited and animated character that has acquainted itself with audiences up and down the country over the last two decades. Then as quickly as he had barged on to the tiny stage, Moran departed with a swift “See you soon – thanks, bye” behind the curtain.

Just as one audience member had educated us earlier in the evening that the Lithuanian for ‘hello’ is “Labas”, Dylan Moran demonstrated the true meaning of “Sláinte” as the audience advanced towards the exits, dregs in glasses toasted towards the bar, roaring into the damp November evening.

Reviewer : Stephen Watt

The Stand Comedy Club, Edinburgh

26^th October

As the lights dim and the music cuts, and the candles flicker amidst stifled giggles and a drum roll, bare feet emerge from a smooth, sultry velvet suit and slip ostentatiously into the spotlight. A seductive glass of red wine polishes a clichéd French alter ego, as this deliciously obnoxious but seductively smooth persona, moulds an evening of hilarious philosophical flair.

Marcel Lucont enjoys contrasting the parody and crassness of the British with the eloquence of their sophisticated French cousins amidst a delivery knotted in soft, dry charisma and sharp-witted observations. His jokes are well structured and intelligently formed, and his delivery is impeccable. The soft eloquence of his monotone insults roll steadily with expert timing and confident pause, to allow the audience time to erupt before dropping another quick-witted, cynical consideration.

Hilarious observations ‘You rarely meet a gay fascist’ pucker his monologue before he delves headfirst into a sharp assassination of Calvinistic and depressing Scottish conditioning, his disgust of festivals, children and monogamy and a whole array of his personal distastes and dismays, all of course delivered with an air of French superiority. ‘Do you like cake? Yes, sure, like cake, same cake til you die..?!’ One online feminist regrettably took umbrage at his sexism and shameful ‘plugging’ of his (ficticious) autobiography Moi giving credit to his expert and sophisticated ability to immerse himself fully within his outrageous clichéd alter ego.
He peppers his set with colourful and interesting use of projector, narrates outrageously funny, and well composed poetry, and concludes the first part of his show in euphoric, lyrically flared song, keeping his set entertaining and punctuated. Overall his set is impeccably well constructed and intelligently delivered, giving justification for his recent flood of acclaimed awards. A Smooth and delicious French martini of a poet, comedian and philosopher… FOUR STARS

Reviewer : Teri Welsh

The Beehive Comedy Club

The Beehive Inn, Ediburgh

Friday 24th / Saturday 25th October

THE STAND

Edinburgh

Thursday 23rd & Saturday 25th October

£15

Four Acts in 2 Hours:   It all starts with the compare Bruce Devlin. A Funny Furry Poof with a fast , hard hitting audience intervention.  Direct and personal he delivers with a blow…  On came Chris Conroy…..   A 20 minute set off fun with a personal take on life as we know it.  A slower pace than Bruce allowed the audience to relax and slowly came to terms off what was going to be an interesting night of comedy….   Next up was Larah Boss, a female Canadian that was due to give birth, but hopefully not during the show…  She delivered a good set off Scottish language comedy, allowing the audience to reflect what our language can really be about. Like a roller coaster ride  from, Kwik Fit Fitters to the child birth, she delivered a funny and consistent set….

After another a Bruce Devlin take on Life the next act Matt Green was on….  I Comedian that makes you laugh just by walking on stage.  If appearances are everything then this guy looks like a teenager in a mans body, are maybe it was just the suit….  Very funny and full of wit, Matt is a true diamond in the rough, one to watch out for..  Then came the headliner: Mick Ferry, the Bryan Ferry of Comedy. A smooth, silky and fast moving take on life and how he fits into it all. He”s a comedian that can look at his self and laugh. Forget about how he looks,  his comedy kept the audience in stitches ,  delivered with a well written and thought out set, Mick is a headliner that never fails to please the audience.   All round a great night packed with some off the finest comedy talent this side of Edinburgh (that’s the East End of Edinburgh)..    Bruce closed the nite with more of his wee dirty camp jokes. One of the best compares I have seen. Well done Bruce!!!!!!

Saturday 18th October 2014

Beehive Inn, Edinburgh

Last night saw the first occasion The Mumble had gone down to the regular weekend giggle-fest that is the Beehive Comedy Club. It lives in an upstairs room of the catacombesque Beehive Inn, on the Grassmarket, & offers the same line-up each Friday & Saturday nights, though differing, of course, week-by-week. The regular feature is the compere, the inimitable Rick Molland who commands & warms the room with an unpretentious confidence that really eases the audience into a mind ready to laugh. During his amiable sweep around the room checking out his punters, he asked me what i did & responded by saying I was reviewing him. This usually stalls a comedian, who swiftly move son & leaves me alone. Instead, Rick pounced like an irate, hungry tiger & showed me up a right treat from then on!

The Beehive Comedy Club is split into three acts, the first of which tonight was played out by a cuddly Glaswegian singer of very funny, quite deadpan & occasionally butt-squirming ballads called Harry Garrison. One of the songs was about unrequited love, & how he tied her to a bike under his stairs, while the best was a quality ditty called Evil badger. The heart of the evening was given to two up & coming comedians, who both had ten minutes to strut their stuff. First up was John Miller – a cross between Chris Evans & Penfold – who offered up some witty observations of a man climbing from the working classes into the middle… i.e. he now leaves a 20p piece in a public toilet basin if it falls in. Next up was the self-confessed ‘androgenous wind-chime,’ Robin Grainger, whose madcap manic mind is actually full of really funny anecdotes.

The headline act was the hurricane-style force of comic nature that is Jellybean Martinez. Camp, sweary, & funny as, he seemed to have observed every bit of chit-chat that had gone on through the night between Rick Molland & the audience, & wove it all together on the spot in a celebration of high-octane comedy. He was suddenly on first name terms with the cute hen party from Lancashire, & the middle-aged American couple in Edinburgh with their 20-year old daughter. He even chucked me a bag of jellybeans in order to get a good review – but he didnt need to do that, I was hooked from the first second & the sheer energy of the guy is a joy to behold. A great way to finish a great night & if all the Beehive nights are like this, the club should run & run.

The Stand Comedy Club

Edinburgh

Tuesday October 14th

Tony Law bounds onstage, brandishing a trumpet wildly, his thinning black leotard festooned with assorted tat. There’s no support act: he doesn’t need one, two thirds of the audience are avid fans, and the rest are swept along by his manic energy. Law carries himself like a merrily deranged tramp who’s mistaken the bottle-bank for a cocktail lounge, and you -the terrified stranger he’s trapped into conversation- for his bosom chum.  “It’s YOU!” Law cries delightedly at folk in the audience, remembering times they’ve shared “way back” getting high at the gates of Troy, or crusading about the Middle-Ages together. He ricochets between funny voices -which often argue between themselves- and fellates the microphone, making it honk like a fog-horn. We’re all laughing, but I’m not sure what at, really. “I don’t know why either,” shrugs Law, seconds later, as if in response. That gets a big laugh too.

            Maybe it’s the relief. He’s no “worthy” comic come to lecture us. Law does skits on those current affairs conversations where you realise you know nothing, nothing, and can only desperately agree, hoping no-one notices: “Ya ya me too” he booms like a caveman, one we would feel safe going for a pint with. Many jokes seem geared specifically towards exhausted young parents. An Octonauts reference goes down well, as does an attack on businessmen who get annoyed about young children on trains. Some bits seem more suited to the toddlers themselves, a bemused but willing audience member is pulled onstage to toss a beach ball to and fro with Tony, whose facial expressions throughout would delight any pre-verbal child, but fall a little flat for even some of the diehard fans. It goes on, and on. “It gets funny again after fifteen minutes,” Law assures us, but fortunately doesn’t attempt to prove it.

Pleasingly, Law isn’t wildly enthusiastic about his wildly enthusiastic fans, you can’t imagine him coaxing young sycophants into the toilets after the show with a bag of cocaine and the promise of reflected glory. He actually heckles an audience member for laughing excessively. She loves it, and loves him regardless, shouting “we still love you, Tone Zone” moments later when he inadvertently snags a rubber snake on the lighting rig.

             Because Tony Law is as likable as he is strange, no one minds when he chuckles to himself at aborted jokes, then doesn’t share them; or performs five minutes of his act to the back wall, leaving us nothing to stare at but his lycra-clad bottom; or does throwbacks to material from old shows. Everyone loves it. Everyone but Tone Zone. A lot of his act consists of apologising for the rest of it, he grimaces at his own jokes, breaks off for yogic breathing and makes repeated references to mental breakdown which -amid the laughs- illicit noises of genuine concern. Ultimately, looking for the method in the madness may just be another type of madness. If you like being bemused as much as amused, you’ll love your time in the Tone Zone, and the die-hard fans never want to leave it. Tony Law is a flawed, but thoroughly engaging dude. FOUR STARS

Reviewer : Katie Craig

The Caves, Edinburgh

What a show !    Very well written and executed…  Written and delivered with pace and good humour … A great piece of Comedy – Story Telling from very much an up-and-coming comedian..    A show that any audience could relate too..  Runaway laughs and thoughts of what”s coming next, the audience were engaged throughout the whole show… 

A man that had sinned and was happy to share it with us..  Exhilarating and funny, I left with a feel good factor about life…  a well deserved FOUR STARS

Reviewer : Spud