THEATRE
Tonight‘s helping of comedy comes from the splendidly-named Official Kylie Minogue Experience and therc'll probably be a musical act on the bill too. I Robert Halpern Pavilion Theatre. 12] Renfield Street. Glasgow. 041 332 1846. 7.30pm. £4/£5. See Fri 22.
I Comic Club lmprov Blackfriars. 45 Albion Street. Glasgow. 55?. 5924. 8.30pm. £3.50. The Funny Farm's fortnightly John Sessions session.
THURSDAY 28
I The Kit Kat Club Blackfriars. 45 Albion
Street. Merchant City. Glasgow. 04] 552 5924. 9pm. £4.50 (£3.50). Baropen 8.30pm—midnight. Sec Thurs 7.
I Robert llalpem Pavilion Theatre. 12.1 Renfield Street. Glasgow. 04] 3321846. 7.30pm. £4/£5. Sec Fri 22.
— SEE COMPETIONS
PAGE 83
i—The ou ple
The hilarious new female version of this smash hit comedy.
031-229 9697 Until 7 july 8pm £3 to £9
Sat Mat. 30june 3.15pm £4
THE CENTRE OF THE UNIVERSE
Seen at the Pleasance Bar, Edinburgh. Shows will be occasionally at different venues. Cabaret can be a touch frightening for the promoter. The organiser of this particular sortie into the most risky sector of live performance opted for the time-honoured fashion of subduing first night nerves- drinking as much as possible as quickly as possible. Initially, it seemed that comatose lnebriation would be the most preferable state for the audience as well. The compere, one Mark McDonnell, was at first inaudible (try holding the mike in front of, ratherthan in, your mouth, Mark) and then made you wish that he had remained so. For a compere not to have any discernable comic talent is a bit of a drawback. But then things started looking up. McDonnell appeared to realise that maybe a career in accountancy was more up his street and swiftly exited, to be replaced by the first band - ‘The Winter Bairns'. ‘First Band?’ I hearyou cry. Yes indeed, for although this is
billed as cabaret, there is a decidedly stronger emphasis on the music than the comedy. No complaints though, for all of the bands produced upbeat, inoffensive and (yes, I’ll go this far) enjoyable music reminiscent of innumerable fringe shows down the years. This makes ‘The Centre of The Universe’ a relaxing alternative to other cabaret venues where, more often than not, one has to sit through second or third rate comedians before the headline act comes on.
The Farm Violents provided what turned out to be the comic interlude in the music (if one, as one should, discounts the compere). As interludes go, this was one of the best. The two-woman act also displayed strong fringe influences but avoided fringe inconsistencies; they were witty, inventive and original throughout- a true find. Other than that there is little to be said because the venue and the acts will change if ‘The Centre oi The Universe' makes it to the stage again, but if you see it advertised, go along. If this show is anything to go by, the young promoter knows talent when he sees it. I only hope he has recovered enough from his hangover to go scouting again. (Philip Parr)
W
spinning a line l990
a dynamic new writing event: four new plays, workshops, talks & discussions
friday 15 - friday 22 lune 7.30pm welfare my lovely by anthony nlelson with the pursuit of accidents by peter mackie burns
saturday 23 - sunday 24 2.30pm & 7.30pm see all four SPINNING A lINE plays in one day for full details and performance times see theatre listings or traverse brochure
box office 031 226 2633
E I— 1 35 h l: 33 E l~ III E
mamm— DURTYJOKES
46 West George Street, Glasgow. Seen on 2 June. Every Friday and Saturday at 7.30pm.
‘80, who have you got on the bill tonight?’ your critic enquired.
‘Well there's a drag artist called Danny Barry and topping the bill is Joe Camay,‘ responded the manager.
‘Uh huh. . . and?’ asked the critic, pen poised.
‘Er. . .that’s it,‘ concluded the manager.
0tu Jokes began in a blaze of publicity a couple oi weeks ago, promising five or six new and talented comics each night. That it has taken all of two weeks forthe bill to resemble a Meadowbank home gate is sad enough. What is worse is that the entry price has remained at the nightlife robbery level of £5 (although this does include admission to the club later on).
What is worse still is that the aforementioned drag act exhibited slightly less comic prowess than Jeremy Beadle in a coma. Mlming to scratched records of hits of the 60s whilst wearing frilly chiffon and pumping your arm up and down in true building site fashion may be funny in
Newcastle - from where Mr Barry halls - but I’m afraid we're a little more sophisticated up here in Glasgow. As for his repartee, which takes a back-seat to the pathetic miming, the phrase that springs to mind is stomach-chuming.
Joe Camay was welcomed with some trepidation — it being patently obvious that the management had not deemed it necessary to check out the acts before booking. On this occasion, though, they definitely struck lucky. Camay goes into the logistics of sex with a mechanical obsession, is somewhat sexist but also shows little respect for his own gender and takes a while to feel confident enough not to say a certain word every three seconds. But he is funny, and consistently so, through what must be a record-breaking Glasgow cabaret circuit routine of over an hour. To simply keep going with Camay’s style for this length of time is laudable enough. To make the audience laugh so heartily and so often is nigh on unique.
b Sod it was a show of two halves. The
oy amay done well and should have our on m r u guaranteed himself a place in each For 0 Copy Of the TU“ programme' 5".."(':'3';7'~ 3".- g ', week's starting line-up. But, hopefully, ' I I the scouts will be out before the next team is signed up. (Philip Parr)
This summer’s programme is spiced with a host of international ingredients, featuring the best in World Music from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Sierra leone, the United States and the Soviet Union. Also included are concerts by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Glasgow Philharmonic, plus the perenially popular mid-week programmes of Modern, Old Time and Scottish Country Dancing, and much more.
contact our Marketing Unit “4" in
IIPIOVIIG "INC" - (IIMIIG 10.5
on 031-557 2480
The List 15-281unc 199051