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A Rush of Laughter
Comedy Club
Sunday 3rd June 2012
Reviewed by
We were uncharacteristically early for the gig and, as we sat in the
beautifully eclectic bar having a pre-show drink, we saw the owner and
compere stressing out over the volume of music coming from the restaurant
downstairs, apparently a wedding reception was to put a dampener on our
stand up show. The volume was intense, the pounding coming up through
the floor but to my surprise, rather than ruin the show, it provided the
comics with a universal joke and, with slightly higher volume on the mikes,
our stand up show proceeded.
First out of the stalls was Danny Sutcliffe who seemed at ease with the
audience, apart from a few notes scribbled on his hand. He got laughs
with gags about his children being 2 and 6 years old and that he would
happily sell them for 2 and 6 in old money. He assured us he was no relation
to the Yorkshire ripper and made a few jokes at his hometown’s expense.
Although is set didn’t feel natural, he did have an air of ease
to his personality, it seemed a little disjointed in parts but he did
achieve great laughs, especially with his card trick gone wrong and bitter
girlfriend gag. I would look out for him in the future as his likeable
personality promises great things to come.
Next on was Tom O’Dare, a last minute addition to the line-up,
I assume, as his name was not advertised. I had seen Tom before at an
amateur night and although he did get big laughs I was unimpressed. I
hoped he would surprise me but unfortunately his set was shaky. He used
a lot of one-liners, with ladybirds and the Greek crisis driving a lot
of simply formatted jokes. At the amateur night he fitted in with comics
who are still developing their talent, but tonight I felt sorry for him
as he was a little out of his depth.
Upping the ante next was the wonderful Steve Bugeja, he has a likeable
charm and immediately hit the right notes for the audience with jokes
about being young and therefore very proud he could grow and maintain
a beard. His admission that he was bad at sex and had taken some advice
from friends – treat it like the board game operation, get in and
out without touching the sides – got a massive laugh and some applause.
Whilst jokes about his Dad making dinner for the dog, aka Stepmum, went
down a treat, especially when he explained that it was his Mum’s
favourite joke, and that she had written it. He had the audience eating
out of his hand as they lapped up his humour and style. I would highly
recommend him and will keep an eye out for his name in future.
Our headliner was the superb talent that is Mark Rough, a veteran on
the comedy circuit his experience was obvious as he told story after story,
entwined with jokes and observations which had the audience howling with
laughter. With a bit of heckling from the crowd he indulged two buxom
women with a bit of banter before firmly and amusingly putting them back
in their place and resuming centre stage. His observations about schoolboys
complaining about teachers in their early twenties having sex with them
left him baffled as he regrets that never happened to him. Explaining
how his sister had called him for advice about her husband’s dandruff
got a laugh since Mark is bald, but then he pushed it further when he
told her to give him head and shoulders, she replied by asking how she
could give him shoulders which raised a massive laugh from the crowd.
Mark’s talent is undeniable; he has a presence and ease on the stage
that only comes with experience. He got massive laughs and an encore,
a true comic talent.
As always the night was held together by the wonderful compere Adam Rushton,
and he could look on tonight with pride as it was definitely a roaring
success. A Rush of Laughter, it seems, is
really starting to gather momentum and I for one am really looking forward
to next month!
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