Comedy
NATIONAL TOUR ARNOLD BROWN Greenock Arts Guild, Sat 2 Nov, then touring
Arnold Brown is about to embark on a three-week tour of Scotland at an age when most comedians of his vintage would otherwise be collaborating on musicals with Andrew Lloyd Webber or indulging in love-ins with Michael Parkinson.
‘l’m a kind of Zelig-figure, popping up briefly at significant events in history,’ Brown says of his unorthodox career path. Indeed, comedy’s best- loved Jewish-Glaswegian (‘Two stereotypes for the price of one,’ to quote his catch-phrase in The Young Ones) performed his first gig at almost exactly the same time as Mrs Thatcher was quoting St Francis of Assisi on the steps of Downing Street. Having successfully dodged flying ashtrays at the opening night of London's Comedy Store, birthplace of the 805 ‘alternative’ comedy movement, whose leading lights continue to dominate TV comedy, the surreal, cerebral funnyman might have been expected to settle down into television mediocrity. Yet, the one-time accountant is untroubled by the fact that he has taken the path less trodden.
‘You’re going to ask me why Ben Elton’s a multimillionaire and I’m not,’ Brown drawls, (almost) anticipating my next question. ‘My humour has always been way-out. That popular, observational comedy has never appealed to me. When comedians say “Have you ever noticed . . ?”, I’ll say “Yes, I have. So what?” I’m the guy who says “Have you ever not noticed . . ?" which has its own value. And if you break the rules early on, it gives you licence to go on breaking the rules.’
After grabbing the Perrier Award in 1987, Brown has made cameo appearances in the Bill Forsyth film Comfort and Joy, and Peter Mullan’s forthcoming Young Adam (“If you go to the washroom you’ll miss me’) as well as producing a couple of radio series. But for brainy Brown, nothing compares to the creative process, the pursuit of ideas and the interaction of live work. Despite the self-effacing Zelig comparisons, it’s striking how many of comedy’s current bright young things cite him as an important influence, particularly those off-beat, rapid-fire ramblers Phil Kay, Eddie lzzard and Adam Bloom.
‘Yes, I’m the king of comedy respect,’ Brown admits. ‘And, yes, it’s still nice to be being creative and respected at this age.’ (Allan Radcliffe)
74 THE LIST .e‘. ()(l 74 N(;‘. 1/‘001’
Gigs are listed by date, and then city. Details will be listed provided information reaches our offices at least eight days before publication. Comedy listings compiled by Maureen Ellis.
Glasgow
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. l'(i(’ Building. Renl‘reis Street. 0870 787 0707. 7.30pm. £6. Scotland's on n Stu Who'.’ introduces the :ll\\tt_\’s oult'ageotis Scott ('apurro. shocking l'unn} lady Maud) Knight and London-based \s'eegie (ieol'l~ Bo) /.
The Live Floor Show BBC. ()ld Reception. Queen Margaret l)ri\ e. 338 34‘”. 8.30pm. liree. hut ticketed. the recordings ol' BB(' Scotland’s hit coined) and music shois l'eaturing ('raig lllll. lirankie Boyle. the Reverend ()hadiah Steppenisoll‘e lll. Miles Jupp and Bob l)oolall_\.
Wicked Witches Hallowe’en Special The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. ()870 600 6055. 9pm. £6 (£5). An evening ol \\ icked humour tron) The Stand's comedy \amps \\ ho include Marianne l’ashle). Susan Morrison. Sandra Johnston and host Jane Macka). To the Wall with Andy Jones Tron Theatre. 63 'l‘rongate. 552 4267. ()pm. £8 £ll (£5 £6). A one man shim ol the maddest \‘ariet) l‘rom a \eteran ot (’anadian coined) troupes such as ('()l)('() and Kids in the Hall.
Edinburgh
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 0pm. £5 (£4). (iear up tor the \\ eekend \sith Silk). Dundee lad Ben Dare} and coined} posh ho} .\'eil Mcl‘arlane.
Rabbit Warren Comedy Club Nichol lidxsards. \itltlr} Street. 07‘)-ll 92‘) 23‘). ()pm. £3 (£2). Head down the Warren l‘or their llalloxie'en special leaturing the comic talents ol' 5(l-\\ord storsteller Stephen Barnah}. (ireg Mcllugh. John Scott and head hunn} Sarah Wilson.
Snatch Club The liquid Room. 9c Victoria Street. 225 2564. lllpm 3am. £3.50 (£2.50). Resident compere Harr} Ainsisorth and competition host l)a\e Strong (aka Perrier new comer \\ inners (iarth (’ruikshank and liddie Mc('ahe) with their \seekl) ('urrv ()n-meets-lli He [II debauched cabaret.
Glasgow
Watson’s Wind-up (ilasgms l'illlll 'l‘heatre. l2 Rose Street. 332 8l28.
l l.45[)lll. l‘ree. The recordings ol. the topical lle\\s radio .slto\\ \\ ith ()n/i (III Iiu'usi' star Jonathan Watson and guests. Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. l’(i(' Building. Renl‘reu Street. 0870 787 0707. 7.30pm. £ l 2. See Thu 3l.
The Stand The Stand. 33.3 Woodlands Road. 0870 ()00 6055. 9pm. £7 (£0). Manchester l‘a\ourite Ton} Burgess. plus bedroom popslat' Sand) Nelson. Silk) and compere Jane Macka).
To the Wall with Andy Jones Tron Theatre. 63 Trongate. 552 4267. 0pm. £8 U I (£5 £6). See Thu 31.
Edinburgh
Reg Anderson’s Comedy Cellar l'iih .\l;te(‘ool.s. l(il l.othian Road. ()2: 7l()‘). 0pm. £3. (ilasgois 's l)es .\lcl.ean headlines. \\ ith celeh mimic Keara Murph) and Martin l‘urh).
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 0pm. £7 (£6). Better lsllt)\\ll as lime (Jeni/mien l’it'uu' harman Ste\e. Jason l‘reeinan indulges his shamholic side \\ ith a spot (it satire. Marianne l’aslile_\ and l.eit|i's l’aul McNeill stand
tip in support with compere Stisan Morrison.
Glasgow
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. l'(i(‘ Building. Renl‘rexs‘ Street. 0870 787 0707. 7.30pm. £l2. See Thu 3 l.
The Stand The Stand. 33.3 Woodlands Road. 0870600 6055. 9pm. £8. See liri 1 only with compere Susan Morrison.
To the Wall with Andy Jones Tron Theatre. 63 Trongate. 552 4267. 0pm. £8 £ll (£5 £6). See Thu 31. Madcap Comedy Club State Bar. I48 Holland Street. 883 2334. 0.30pm. £6 (£5). l‘ree—l'orm coined} maestro l’hil Ka) throus caution to (he \\ ind \\ ith more surreal meanderings.
Edinburgh
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 0pm. £8. See Hi l but with compere Jane Macka}.
Greenook
Arnold Brown (il'eelloels :\l'ls (iuild. ('amphell Street. ()I475 723038. 8pm. £8 (£6). The grandmaster of Scottish L‘Ullletl} \‘ents his l'rustration at the riddles ol' contemporar) lixing. See
pre\ ieu.
Paisley
The Joke Box llainish's lloose. 42 ()Id Sneddon Street. 5(il 7l07. 0.30pm. l-‘ree. (ilasgois coined} regulars l)es McLean and R;i_\mond Mearns pla) it tor laughs.
Glasgow
89 Minutes to Save the NHS Tron ’Theatre. 63 'l'rongale. 552 4267. 8pm. £8 (£6). Dr Phil llammond presents his satirical aiiahsis or our eottnlt‘} ’s health s} stem. The former doctor giVes the NHS a thorough and still} check-up in a shtm “lilell \\ e gas e tour stars during its l-‘ringe run.
0 Big Word Performance Poetry Slam \ice'n'Sleal). 42l Sauchiehall Street. 287 2838. 8pm. £4 (£3). 20 poets battle to become (ilasgou ’s second slam champion. Anita (iman and Jeni Rolls compere. \\ith special guest Beat |06 presenter l)es ('larke.
The Comedy Coop ()‘.\'eill‘s. 31 Bell Street. 07870 869W”. 8.30pm. £4 (£3). l.i\erpool \sordsmith Richard :\|len headlines. \\ ith Sandra Johnston. John (iillick and compere Neil Mcliarlane. Craic @ the Sac ‘lst Birthday Party (Itll de Sac Sotllllsltle/:\llle. l l7‘) l’ollokshaxss Road. 64‘) IMO/64‘) 47 I 7. 8.30pm. £8. Ten ol Scotland's brightest comics do their must in a hirthda) celebration in aid ol' ('ancer Research. See prex iexs.
The Very Best of Irish Comedy Special The Slttlltl. 3.33 “()(ullttlltls Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £7 (£5). ('onteniporar) Irish stand-up at its liest “ith the el‘l'ortlessl) hrilliant l)ara ()‘Briain. satirical master Kexin lla}es and the laconic Michael Redmond.
Edinburgh Whose Lunch is it Anyway? The
Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. lpm. l‘ree. l‘reest) le lumiiness and liangmer- banishing antics l‘ron! resident duo l’aul (iraham and Stuart Murph}.
Arnold Brown The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £8 (£6). Sce (ireenock. Sat 2. See pro in»
The Rabbit Warren Comedy Club ('anon's (iait. 232 ('anongate. 0704 l‘)2 023‘). 8.30pm. £4 (£2). Tuo hours ol' eollletl} l‘ollo\\ etl l)_\ a chance lor the audience to indulge in a spot ol~ karaoke. The opening night l'eatures M(' Sarah \Vilson. plus .loliii Scott. (iraeine 'l'homas. Brendan Moolian. Mike Boon and karaoke queen Rex.
Yo Ho Ho Sushi Yo? Helms. 66 Rose