COMEDY listings
REVIEW
Got In Glasgow The Stand, Glasgow, Sun (4 Jan
If the idea of gay-friendly comedy conjures up images of camp homosexual-oriented humour tinged with extreme political correctness, then a night at Oct should quickly shatter that illusion. ’Good evening lezzies and poofs' screeches Joon Broon in her Shania Twain-esque ensemble, before relieving her bra of its padding, producing a lighter, pack of fags and bottle of beer from her ample cleavage.
Joon is refreshingly direct and gloriously irony-free in the role as host of The Stand's new gay blind date competition, sure to become a
Craig Hill: Cat and Aboot
permanent fixture of its monthly gay-friendly night. Persuading single gay men to take part in certain humiliation wasn't a problem; the lure of a free meal at Fusion and the grip of a leopard print-clad arm put paid to that. While the questions and answers lacked the slick preparation of the TV show, the uncertainty and gay twist added a spark of originality.
Resident compere Craig Hill makes everyone welcome, regardless of sexual persuasion, with an unthreatening survey of the crowd. The unlikely tale of his favourite Christmas present, a Cosmopolitan makeover kit, amusingly
finding resonance with everyone.
Headline act ‘Crystal' was a little Irish charmer, nonchalantly recounting her days as a hairdresser, cruise-liner cabaret act and all-round celeb shoulder- rubber, creating an original persona and engaging, entertaining material.
So for an out of the ordinary experience, cast off your inhibitions and preconceptions and enjoy this titillating comedy treat, rarefied all the more by the omission of tired and crude sexual allusions. (Maureen Ellis)
COMEDY LISTINGS: SAT 3 FEB continued Edinburgh
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £7 (£4). See in 2.
Gumbernauld
Phil Kay (‘timbernauld 'l’heatre. Kildrum. ()l23o 732887. 7.45pm. £7 (£6). Venture iitto tltc surreal world of Phil Kay for a night of eccentric endeavours and much mental meandering. Support comes from the Rev ()bediah Steppenwolfe lll.
Glasgow
Blackfriars Comedy Club Blackft'iars. 3o Bell Street. 552 5024. (‘ancelled due to private function.
Six On Sunday The Stand. 333 \Yoodlands Road. 0870 (i()(l ()055. 8.30pm. £3 (£2). Tonight's stand-up six pack cltarged with endittg your weekend on a high-pitched laughter note include Sandy Nelson. John l.ittle_iolm and compete John (iordon.
Edinburgh
Whose Lunch Is It Anyway? The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. lpttt. Free with drinks or a meal. l-‘reesty'lc ftinniness from resident duo Patil and Stuart.
Six On Sunday The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 72 2. 8.30pm. £3 (£2). .-\ .sexttiplet of stand-up stars including Anthony J Brown. Bene Lilic‘hc‘stic‘t“. Richard Smith and resident cotnpere (iraente Thomas.
Glasgow
Crazy Ape Comedy Club Bar Zoo. 80 Dumbarton Road. 334 8012. 8.30pm. £4 (£3). Mtich laughter and merriinent courtesy of l)es ('lat‘ke. Stisanne l-‘raset' and compete Jamie Robinson. pltis stage one of the opeti mic contest featuring Bodie Doyle. Johl) Ross and (ice/(nap. Edinburgh
Red Raw The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £l. llost Donna Krachan puts around eight comedy newcomers
68 THE “ST l—lS Feb 2001
through their paces with a little help from headliner Patti McNeil].
Edinburgh
Carlsberg Ice Comedy Network The Pleasance. ()0 The Pleasance. 650 234‘). 8pm. £3.50. Age and an unfortunate dress sense don't seem to be standing in the way of young Daniel Kitson. The Thu! Peter Kay“ 'l‘liiite star takes his self- deprecating humour to lidinbtirgh with backing from ftinny'girl Karen Taylor. Rhymes And Misdemeanours The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8pm. £4 (£3 ). ('omedy with a poetic twist from Donna Krachan. Sheridan Strawberry. liric Davidson and Brendan Moohan. The Hairy Watt Comedy Club lieriot- Watt t'niversity t'nion. Riccarton. 45] 5333. 9pm. £3. Put-downs a plenty from (iordon Brtinton who tackles the academic hecklei's with help from Raymond Mearns and [)avid Kay. Students and guests only.
Three Fat Ladies The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9.30pm. £4 (£3). Joon Broon. Jane Mackay and Bruce l)e\ lin (the mind boggles) invite yoti tojoin in this interactive murder mystery evening. (itiest star .\tiles Jtipp assumes the role of the randy vicar. .\'o stretch of the imagination needed there then.
Edinburgh
Crazy Cabaret The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8pm. £4 (£3). .-\ pic ‘n' mix of comedy and magic complete with unusual characters and an assortment of /any nonsense.
Reg Anderson's Fun Quiz Night The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 0.30pm. £l to play. Pit your w its against host Reg .-\nderson for the chance to w in cash atid pri/es.
Paisley
Carlsberg Ice Comedy Network t'niyersity ()f Paisley. l7 Hunter Street. 88‘) 0940. 8pm. £3. ()ld-school stand-up mixed with some agricultural battter frotn (‘anada‘s Tony Law. Support comes from
Spencer Brown. Students and guests only.
Dundee
Dundee Comedy Cafe West Port Bar. West Port. 01382 200093. 8.30pm. £3 (£2.50). iii/Iv Slum/'s hostess With the mostess Jane Mackay yenturcs tip to Dundee and is joined by compere Brandon Rc‘c‘d and two guests from the stand-up circuit.
THURSDAY 8
Glasgow
Live And Unleashed Strathclyde l'niyei'sity t'nion. 90 John Street. 552 I895. 8pm. £5. The Bulbotis l-ish may haye drowned long ago. btit Strathclyde t'ni sttidents' laughter levels should be suitably increased with the start of this new fortnightly comedy club. Scotland's improy maestro Phil Kay lends his surreal brand of humour to the opening night. Students and guests only.
The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 (300 (1055. 8.30pm. £4 (£3). This eyening's tisual suspects joining host lirankie Boyle are John (iillick. .\liles Jtipp aitd three \‘elvet Yirgins. The Hairy Haggis Comedy Club llielantnan's Bar. 224 Argyle Street. 248 5(i85. 8.30pm. £4 (£3 ). Stti Who‘.’ gets the gags in alter some cutting humour from ('olin Ramone. Billy Bonket's stands tip iit his usual cotnpering role.
Edinburgh
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £4 (£3). l)iinintitive Brummie lass Jo linright takes time otit from her busy TY ad schedule to play a gig at The Stand. Support comes from (‘harlie Ross and Patti Mch‘ill. whilst Joon Broon comperes.
Reg Anderson's Comedy Cellar l-‘in Mac(‘ools. lb] l.othian Road. ()22 7|()‘). 9pm. Free. Joe lteenan. Bette I.inchesticov attd Arthur (‘risps are this evening‘s guestsjoining Reg Anderson's comedy empire.
FRIDAY 9
Glasgow
The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 (300 (3055. 9pm. £6 (£5). Menacing humour from headline act Roger Monkhotise. Raymond Mearns and An Audience With Peter provide the support and Vladimir McTavish is the guest cotnpere.
Edinburgh
Scruffy Murphy's One Comedy Night Scruffy Murphy's. 49/50 (ieorge [Y Bridge. 225 l(i8l. 8pm. Free. Joe lleenan takes the top slot with support from Kevin Spence. Bob Lilac and resident M(' Reg Anderson.
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £(i (£5 ). Quick-wilted satire from Frankie Boyle. Miles Jtipp and compete Jane Mackay.
The Bedlam lmproverts Bedlam Theatre. 1 lb Bristo Place. 225 9893. 10pm. £3 (£2.50). See l‘ri 2.
Dundee
The Dundee Comedy Club The Doghouse. 13 Brown Street. 01382 227080. 9pm. £5 (£4). Joon Broon admits musical comedian Sandy Nelson into her club along with Motherwell lad Mark Bratchpiece and John l-la/elton.
SATURDAY 10
Glasgow
The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 (>00 6055. 9pm. £7 (£4). See liri t).
Madcap Comedy Club The State Bar. I48 llollatid Street. 332 215‘). 9.30pm. £5 (£4). The stand-up stars glittering this evening include ('raig ('rookson. James Campbell and resident compete Billy Bonkers.
Edinburgh The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £7 (£4). See Fri 9.
Glasgow
Got In Glasgow The Stand. 33.3 \Y()()tti;lliti\ Road. “(STU (all) onSS. 8.30pm. £5 (£4). (iay -fi'iendly banter hosted by (‘raig Hill who introduces camp musician .-\n .-\tidtence \Ytth Peter attd support from ('harlie Ross. Two lucky punters w ho bray e the gay blind date competition w ill w in a meal fot' two. See t‘L‘\ ic‘ys.
Blackfriars Comedy Club iiidc‘kll‘lal‘S. 3h Bell Street. 552 5‘l24. 0pm. £5 (£4). Mantacal mirth from ,-\llan Miller with support from Michael legge and comedy couple Paul and Ray. Resident host James ('ampbell takes charge of the proceedings and Burning ()t'phanage fills the open spot.
Edinburgh
Whose Lunch Is It Anyway? The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. lpm. liree w itlt drinks or a meal. See Stiii 4.
Six On Sunday The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £3 (£2). Paving the way for gags galore. compete (ii'aeme Thomas introduces si\ stand-tips including Stisan Morrison and Paul .\lc.\'eil|.
Glasgow
Crazy Ape Comedy Club Bar /.ot). .s'o l)ttmbarton Road. 334 80l 2. 8,30pm. £4 (£3). Jamie Robinson hosts a packed litte— tip of stand-up talent including musical comedian Sandy Nelson. Jamie McKen/ic. Neil Mcl‘arlane. three open spots. pltis phase two of the open tnic contest featuring Sandra Johnstone. liamon Riley and Paul l-"ielder.
Edinburgh
Red Raw The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £l. llost Bruce l)ev lit) and headliner Nick l‘indlay' are the tried and tested professionals at this comedy newcomers run-out.
Edinburgh
OOT: Out On Tuesday The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £5 (£4). Screaming good humour featuring the mtinchkin-like Jo Iinright, pltis resident host (‘raig llill. (‘harlie Ross and not forgetting the new gay blind date competition.
WEDNESDAY 14
Edinburgh
Valentine's Night Special The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm (Supper from 7.30pm). £l0 inc supper. Sisters are doing it for themselves at this all-female line-tip. After a candlelit dinner. sit back and prepare to be romanced by compete Donna Krachan. headline act Jo linright. pltis Stisan Morrison. Sandra Johnstonc. l)elia (iallaghcr and Marjorie.
Glasgow
The Hairy Haggis Comedy Club llielaninan's Bar. 224 Argyle Street. 248 5685. 8.30pm. £4 (£3). Ireland‘s Michael Redtnond keeps the ('eltic connection alive as he iiidttlges in some laid-back banter. ('harlie Ross provides the backing alongside host Billy" Bonkers.
The Stand The Stand. 3.3.3 \Yoodlands Road. ()870 600 (i055. 8.30pm. £4 (£3). Boistcrous banter from Jtistin Moorehouse Host l-‘rankie Boyle also welcomes to the stage three Velvet Yirgins.
Edinburgh
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £4 (£3). Joon Broon launches a full-blown funny bone assault introducing Stisan Morrison. John (iordon and .\'ick liindlay.
Reg Anderson's Comedy Cellar l-‘in Mac('ools. lbl l.othian Road. ()22 7l0‘). 9pm. Free. This evening's patter merchants include Prank (‘urtaiiL Ben Lures. Tony Lipinan and host Reg Anderson.