5 to see

ANDY PARSONS

1 He looks nice on front covers Well, the only one we've actually ever seen him on was in The List. no less. back in August 1996, dressed as a mini-troll, unbelievably, along with comedy partner Henry Naylor. That's the Festival for you.

2 Giving political comedy a good name He worked with the boy Naylor as a writer on Spitting Image. and the pair have done stage shows and radio gigs rifting on the state of this nation. 3 Political yes, but not a comedy terrorist Hardly a big fan of Aaron

Barschak, Parsons noted last August that all he was he able to do to publicise his Edinburgh show was to ‘get drunk in the Assembly Rooms bar. This involved no pubic wigs, climbing skills or the ability to tool a policeman.‘

4 Anagrammatically Recalling his days as a trainer of melancholic nags, he's ‘ran

sad ponys'.

5 He’s got previous Of several glowing reviews of Mr P, we've described him variously as 'obscener-gifted' and ‘so deadpan he makes Jack Dee look like Zebedee from The Magic Roundabout, concluding that he's the man to see if ‘you're bored of surrealism, tired of improv and think all politicians are wankers'.

(Brian Donaldson)

I The Stand, Glasgow, Thu 10—Sat 72 Jun; The Stand, Edinburgh, Thu 24 Jun.

Edinburgh

Piranha Performance Poetry Show The Canons' (iait. 232 Canongate. 556 448l. ‘)—l 1.30pm. £2. (iary Death's hardcore mix of poetry and laughter with Jenny Lindsay. Anita (iovan. the Newcastle Poetry Vandals and Fraser Fruity Blue.

Capital Comedy: The Comedy Cave Nichol Edwards. Niddry Street. 556 8642. ‘)pm. £2. Hi jinx and lattghs galore at this weekly comedy night hosted by MC Mac Star and featuring headliner (ierty McDade.

A Kick Up the Tabloids The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. ‘)pm. £5 (£4). Political satirists Paul Sneddon. Sttsan Morrison and John Flint scour the best and worst of the world's news for comedy tit-bits. tall tales and downright tat.

Glasgow

Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. UGC Building. Renfrew Street, 08707 870707. 8pm. £7. Observational humour frotn former priest Allie Joey. who is aided and abetted by Steve Harris. the all- singing all-dancing Ricky (ilover and contentious comedian Curtis Walker. The Thursday Show The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 9pm. £6 (£5 ). Master of ceremony Raymond Mearns introduces the laughter-inducing delights of Aussie gangster Trevor Crook. Richard Allen. Saj arid the mother of comedy. Jo Jo Sutherland.

Edinburgh

The Edinburgh Edition The Three Tttns Wine Vaults. 7—1 I Hanover Street. 0790‘) 552345. 8pm. £2. New weekly news quiz with stand-up from Paul Pirie and John Scott.

Cowgate Central Comedy Club Cowgate Central Comedy Club. Wilkie Hottse. Hasties Close. Cowgate. 225 9744. ‘)pm. £7 (£5). Regular host Bruce Devlin introduces his guests. including pun- tneister (iary Delaney. magician Steven Dick and New Deal comedian Tony Carter.

The Thursday Show The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. ‘)pm. £6 (£5). The jokes will be bouncing off the walls as cutting host Frankie Boyle invites posh boy turned rude boy Miles Jupp. Chris Henry and others to the stage.

The Snatch Social The Liquid Room. 9c Victoria Street. 225 2564. 10.30pm— 3am. £4 (£3.50). See Thu l0.

Friday 18

Glasgow

Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. L'CiC Building. Rettfrew Street. 08707 870707. 8pm. £12. See Thu l7.

The Stand The Stand. 33.3 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 9pm. £7 (£6). Diamond geezer Trevor Cook lines up beside comedy's top gentleman Miles Jtlpp. Saj. Jo Jo Sutherland and full-force (ilaswegian host Frankie Boyle.

Gong Show Cul de Sac. 44-46 Ashton Lane. 334 474‘). l0.30pm. Free. See Fri ll. I’urt oft/tr Hits! lint! festival.

Edinburgh

OJongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. ()mni Centre. (ireensidc Place. 08707 870707. 8pm. £12. Musician-turned- comedian Mickey Httttott shares the comedy stage with Todd Sawyer. ingenious mirth-maker Tony Law (see panel) and self-confessed ‘gingcr boy' Brian Higgins. Cowgate Central Comedy Club Cowgate Central Comedy Club. Wilkie House. Hasties Close. Cowgate. 225 ‘)744. ‘)pm. £8. Danny James introduces a new line-up of guests. including banter master (iary' Delaney and card shark Steven Dick. The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £7 (£6). Motor mouth host Susan Morrison introduces the diverse rib- tickling styles of local comedians John (iillick. Richard Allen attd more.

Saturday 19

Glasgow

Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. L'CiC Building. Renfrew Street. 08707 870707. 8pm. £13. See Thu l7.

Madcap Comedy Club The State Bar. 148 Holland Street. 332 215‘). 8.30pm. £5 (£4). An extended set from fantastical comedian Des McLean. with support from streetwise (ilaswegian (iary Little.

The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. ‘)pm. £8. See Fri 18. The Vault Comedy Club The Vault.

l 1 l0 Pollokshaws Road. 64‘) 0007. 9pm. £8. Rambling charmer Des Clarke is the tnain man for the evening as he introduces

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local comedy gods Sandy Nelson. Allen Chalmers and Sandra Johnstone. Comedy lmprov Cul de Sac. 44 46 Ashton Lane. 334 474‘). 10.30pm. Free. See Sat l2. I’urt oft/iv West Ifml I‘t’S/fl'ul.

Edinburgh

Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. ()mni Centre. (ireenside Place. 08707 870707. 8pm. £l3. See Fri 18. Cowgate Central Comedy Club Cowgate Central Comedy Club. Wilkie House. Hasties Close. Cowgate. 225 ‘)744. 9pm. £8. Sec Fri l8.

The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. ‘)pm. £8. See Fri 18. although Frankie Boyle takes over as compere.

Glasgow

Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 ()(X) 6055. 8.30pm. £4 (£3). Well-bred funny'man Miles Jttpp and a handful of other guests join Michael Redmond for his regular Sabbath slot.

Edinburgh

Whose Lunch is it Anyway? The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. lpnt. Free. See Stilt l3.

Bruce’s Sunday Social Club The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £4 (£3). (ileeful host Bruce Devlin brings on his guests including l.eith legend Colin Ratnone. Sat and other comedy heroes.

Glasgow The Comedy Social The Vault. l l l() Pollokshaws Road. 64‘) 0007. ‘)pm. Free. See Mon l4.

Edinburgh

Red Raw The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £1. Headliner Chris Henry leath the way for a fresh batch of stand-up newcomers.

Glasgow

Red Raw The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £2. Beginners in the stand-up world join headliner Chris Henry for a few lessons in the art of laughter.

Edinburgh

Melting Pot The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. ‘)pm. £5 (£4). 1p and coming writers throw their short theatre pieces into the comedy melting pot. with the winner to be decided by the audience.

Wednesday 23

Glasgow

The Reverend Obadiah Steppenwolfe III Charity Appeal The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. ‘)pm. £6 (£5). The irreverent Reverend sheds his unholy light on the world of sinners. slaves and salvation in his monthly charidee spot.

Edinburgh

Capital Comedy: The Comedy Cave Nichol lidwards. .\'iddry Street. 07‘)()‘) 552345. ‘)pm. £2. iii-jinx and plenty of laughs at this special evening in the comedy cave. featuring MC Vladimir Mc'l'avish. headliner Shotta. plus Ashley Frieze and Kenny Ken.

Glasgow

Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. l'UC Building. chfrew Street. 08707 870707. 8pm. £7. l-"t'esh. autobiographical humour from Jo linright. with plenty of extra laughter action from Phil Butler. former undertaker Dom Carroll and the Reverend ()badiah S:eppenwolfe lll.

listings Comedy

Babycham Funny Women Competition The bubbly company keep on keeping on to uncover ladies of laughter. Vault, Glasgow, Thu 70 Jun.

Andy Parsons Political comedy with a surrealist edge from the chap who once appeared on the cover of The List dressed as a tiny little troll. This was quite a long time ago. mind. He's grown a bit since. Stand, Glasgow, Thu 70 & Fri 77 Jun; Stand, Edinburgh, Thu 24 Jun.

Tony Law It's the wise man who gives Canada just as good a name as Avril Lavigne does. See panel. Stand, Edinburgh, Fri 77, Sun 73 Jun; Jongleurs. Edinburgh, Fri 78 Jun.

Dance, Monkey Boy, Dance Messrs Heenan. McLean, Mearns. Nelson (pictured) and Chalmers show us what happens when you mix together tireless comedy and musical mayhem. Cottier Theatre. Glasgow, Mon 74 8. Tue 75 Jun.

The Thursday Show The Stand. 33.3 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 9pm. £6 (£5). Chatty comedian Mick Ferry reveals his dark side in good company. as he joins satirical local 'l’eddy and hard-hitting compere Raymond Mearns for a feast of laughter.

Edinburgh

The Edinburgh Edition The Three Tuns Wine Vaults. 7 l l Hanover Street. 0l3l 225 54l2. 8pm. £2. Vladimir

McTa\ ish adds a dash of comedy to this weekly news-based quiz.

Cowgate Central Comedy Club Cowgate Central Comedy Club. Wilkie House. Hasties ('lose. Cowgate. 225 ‘)744. ‘)pm. £7 (£5). Wicked compere Bruce Deylin plays host to natural charmer Joe Heenan. dry w it Clare Campbell and John Scott.

Reg Anderson’s Night of Comedy .-\cattthus. l7 Waverley Bridge. 556 2358. ‘)pm. Free. Comedy maestro Reg Anderson introduces topical Irishman Kevin Hayes and local raconteur Dougie Dttnlop. OThe Thursday Show The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. ‘)pm. £6 (£5). In yer face cotnpere Frankie Boyle plays host to surreal comedian Andy Parsons (see panel l. Motherwell's Mark Bratchpiece. Simon McKinney and more guests from the world of comedy.

The Snatch Social The Liquid Room. 9c Victoria Street. 225 2564. l0.30pttt-3am. £4 (£3.50). See Thu I0.

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