siANt) UP MARK WATSON
Whenever anyone in the arts does something a bit different, a bit brave, maybe a bit silly, there are those who are all too ready to shout then down, claiming that such acts are mere gimmickry. In this instance, Mark Watson and David Blaine can be bracketed together as ‘ideas men’. Of course, Watson’s comedic pranks haven’t make the tabloid front pages, nor has he had normal members of the public trying to upset his mission by throwing eggs or eating a full English breakfast in front of him. Though in his case, it would be more appropriate for some wag to lie down and snuggle up in a duvet while he performs one of his marathon stand-up shows.
While he was making a name for himself in 2004 with fellow valley boy Rhod Gilbert (though rumour has it that Watson is actually a Bristolian) as the other
half of the Stereocomics, he also gave us his Overambitious 24 Hour Show, which climaxed with the comic having a marriage proposal accepted. Last year he performed 2005 Years in 2005 Minutes. Though having appeared as
an extra in the American version of Queer as Folk is as strange as it must get
for the all-rounder who has also ventured into literature with Bullet Points. The main question thrown up by this show is: just how will his body clock adjust to doing less than an hour? (Brian Donaldson)
I Tho Sta/id. Glasgow, Thu 22 Jun.
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least ten days before publication to comedyGlist.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Robin Lee.
Thursday 8 1
Glasgow
The Thursday Show The Stand. 33.3 thxllands Road. 08706006055. 8.30pm. £6 (£5: £3 members). Jim Jelli'ies (not the Kilmarnock l-‘(‘ manager). ex-benel'it liraudster Tony (‘arter. Barry l)odds and Scott Agnew help M(' Joe lleeiian banish the Thursday blues.
Edinburgh
The New Statesman Playhouse. I8 22 (ireenside Place. 08706063424. 7.30pm. £7.50 £26. Rik May'all returns as New Labour luy'y‘ie Alan B‘Stard.
The Thursday Show The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £6 (£5; £3 members). Start the w eekcnd early with the Reverend ()badiah Steppeiiw'oll‘e lll. ()Ill)‘ urr Iiit'us'e producer Phil l)ill‘er and Derek Johnston. Mrs Barbara Nice hosts. Capital Comedy The Arcade Bar. 48 (‘ockburn Street. 220 I297. 9.30pm. £3. Benelicent night pn‘slded oy'er by Mac Star. where pan of the price goes to charity. Leith Safari 'lhe ('ameo Bar. 23 (‘oiniiiercial Street. Leith. 554 9999.
I0 I l.l5pni. £2. Last year he wowed audiences with his legendary Thermos llask collection; now big-game hunter Sir Horace Tek retunis from his latest expedition to present a lasciiiating slideshow and talk.
The Snatch Social The Liquid Room. 9c Victoria Street. 225 2561. l lpm 3am.
£5. (‘oriiedy capers lTUlll Harry Ainsw'onh
and Tony (‘aner at this cheeky cabaret- cuiii~disco. Babes and Trendy Wendy (monthly resident) supply hip hop and funk. Tonight is the club's sixth birthday.
Glasgow
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. ll(i(‘ Building. Renl‘rew Street. 08707 870707. 8pm. £l0. Big barrel of fun Raymond Meanis is joined by dcadpan Bruce (irill'iths. cit-musician Andy Askiris and (‘anadian truth-teller Sean ('olliiis. The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 08706006055. 8.30pm. £8 (£7; £5 members). Slow-bunting Atistralian Jim
Jet‘l‘ries is joined by Tony Carter and Barry
l)()dds. l.uxetttbourg\ lirst-ey'er TV comedian. Your hosts are Bruce Devlin (Fri) and Susan Morrison (Sat).
Edinburgh
The New Statesman Playhouse. I8 22
(ireenside Place. 08706063424. 7.30pm. £7.50 £26. See Thu 8.
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. ()iiiiii ('entrc. (ireeiiside Place. 08707 870707. 8. l5pm. £l0. (‘omedy' from professional (ieordic Mike Milligan and John l.enahan. the lirst man to be thrown out of the Magic (‘ircle in 85 years. The Laugh Bank The Left Bank. 37 (itithrie Street. 225 9744. 9pm. £6 (£5). Brand new weekly comedy night
conipered by Reg Anderson. with bar open
until lam and free liye niUsic downstairs.
The Stand Allie Stand. 2 \Hlk Place. 558 7272 9pm. £8 (£7. £5 members) Rude yoodoo spirittialist the Reyer’eiid ()badiah Steppenwolle curses T’l'allc esca .\1.ii1iiie/. tootballrcra/y Phil Hitler and cabaret throwback Reg Anderson .\1rs Barbara Nice is your pleasant host
Saturday 1 0
Glasgow
Blackfriars Bumper Value Comedy Blacklriars. Vi Bell Street. 552 592-1
8pm £3. (iay man iii a crisis Scott Agnew is the host lor political satirist Vladimir McTay isli and two more acts. Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongletiis. l'(i(' Btiildiiig. Reiitrew Street, 08707 870707. 8pm. £l3. See Hi 9.
The Stand The Stand. 333 \Vtxidlalids Road, 0870 600 6055 8. 30 9pm. £ l0 See Hi 9.
Edinburgh
Phil Kay's Gimme Your Left Shoe ()ueeii (‘harlotte Rooriis. 56a ()ueeii ('hai'lotte Street. 555 6660. l 2pm. £7.50 (£5). l‘uii with water pistol work. bliridlold taiigeriiie peeling and worst sock testing ('hildreti to be accompanied by an adult. The New Statesman Playhouse. I8 22 (ireeiiside Place. 0870 606 3-124. 2. 30pm (8: 7.30pm. £7.50 £26. See Thu 8. Jongleurs Comedy Club .ltillg'lelll's. ()iiirii ('ciitrc. (ireeiiside Place. 08707 870707. 8.l5piii. £l2. See T‘l'l 9.
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £l0. See T‘Tl 9.
Glasgow
Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £~ll£31£l members). lidiiiburgh‘s (ieor‘die iii:igpic'-iii-e\ile Toiiy (alter and bright talent Stisaii ('aliiiaii In”) the dcadpan dcliyei'y ol' M(' Michael Redmond. who in a prey iotis Inc was l‘ather Stone in l'irrlrer In].
Edinburgh
Whose Lunch is it Anyway? The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. lpm. l‘ree. Banish that iiioriiing~alter lcelirig with a dose of tree (l'oriii) laughter l'rorii iiiipr'oy stars Patil (iraliarii and Stuart Murphy. The Sunday Night Laugh-In The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £4 (£3; £l members). lix-(imrrgt' Hill pupil Francesca Manine/ and ghost-obsessed Barry l)odds guest in Bruce l)eylin's last chance ol the weekend saloon.
M
Glasgow
Dance, Monkey Boy, Dance The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road. 0870600 6055. 8.30pm. £4. Team Monkey (better known as Sandy Nelson. Allen ('haliiiei's. Patil Pirie and Raymond Mcariis) spice tip a dtill weeknight with more spontaneotis skelehes. tilttsic and gags.
Edinburgh
Red Raw The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £ I. Vladimir Mc'l'ay'isli and Keir McAllister ease stand-up sticklings through the mirth (riiiiie)lield.
Tuesday 13
Glasgow
Jackie Mason Royal ('oiicen Hall. 2 Saticliiehall Street. 353 8000. 8pm. £27.50 £35. 'l‘raditional borscht-belt humour and ra/or-sharp digs at political correctness as the legendary American Jewish comic ptits in one ol his lew British appearances. See l'eattire. page l8. Red Raw The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £2 l£l members). Keir McAllister and Andy McPanland initiate another clutch ol stand-tip y irgins into the cult ol‘ comedy.
Edinburgh Melting Pot The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £5 (£4; £2.50 members). A
The New Statesman Sir Richard ot Mayall rottirrit; Wllll all guns a lrla/ing (if; Alan l3'Startl dons; tho wrltirig rota) ol Now I about and iiiakor; l’ilaii gtiivor iii his; IVOW towoi. /’/(iy/)ot/:;o. I (ii/i/iurgh, u/iti/ Sat 10 Jun.
Jackie Mason ()tiito when tho last tiriio an HUI l atirlioiico would havo rookorl wrth tho latightor iiirltiootl by a l)|lll()ll ginoldiro gagz; is; anyono'r; gtioss. llio WISCONSIN horn .Jowrsh (:oinody logoritl grano‘; us with his raro prosonoo. Soo toattiro, pago 18. li’oya/ (ionoor't l—Ia//, G/asgow, luo ISL/uh.
Al Murray lako tiiiio out with tho Put) 1 arirllorrl as; ho attoiiipts to insult as; many (Slaswogiaris at; tho latl Mason. Unlikon to havo much now iiiatorial With all llllf; smoking bar) llOllSUllf‘iU going on, oh? Answor Maohirio, pago l 1?. King's 'f/ioatro, Glasgow, Mon IF) Juli.
Mark Watson Yoti'rl havo thought tho hoyo from tho valloys might havo boon gotting sortie kip botoro his latost marl assault on Edinburgh llllfS August. But, oh no. Soo provrow. The Stand. Glasgow, Thu 2? Jun.
chance lor Scotland‘s rising stars to show till~ llleir shun theatre pieces. w ill) the winner decided by the audience.
Wednesday 14
Glasgow
Rough Cuts Special The Stand. 333 \‘y'txxllands Road. 0870 600 6055. 8.30pm. £5 (£4; £2.50 members). A special showcase ol the best iii new comedy material that’s attempting to clamber its way (into our lelcyision screens.
Edinburgh
Bob Doolally’s Fitba Crazy! The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 8.30pm. £5 (£3 students as: members). liiiter the company of yodka-luclled pundit Bob Doolally and special guests on the eye ol (Jason) Scotland \ liriglaiid.
it 2.7 .J..'i 700‘, THE LIST 41