Comedy Central

Baby Blue, Albert Dock
6th August 2009

Reviewed by Alicia Rose

Absurdity and waffle claimed the night of at least fifty punters at Comedy Central, Baby Blue, Albert Dock last Thursday.

Billed as ‘Blue Thursdays’ it certainly seemed to be heading in that direction as compère Ray Peacock mangled his way through an opening set that hinged on having to be party to a lame game of cat and mouse. Particularly focussing on one audience member Peacock proceeded to unravel a tragic thread of meaninglessness. Ten minutes in and although a couple of chuckles had come to pass, it was hardly sidesplitting humour.

There was optimistic expectation though as the crowd braced themselves in readiness for the appearance of Rob Grant (past ‘Red Dwarf’ co-writer). Hope for a laugh was short-lived however for Grant delivered a funny Frank Skinner opening gag and thereafter deteriorated into a pit of tedium. It seems of recent times Grant has taken up the mic on the stand-up comedy circuit with his ‘wryly observed take on life’, but it was more apathetic lyrical monotony than wry comedy.

Ray Peacock redressed the balance with improved wit and innuendo and the night begun when a member of the fold heckled and in return was advised of an impending invitation to stage. In the meantime fledgling comedian Curtis Threadgold briefly held the spotlight with a wacky metaphorical routine incorporating dogs, dicks, grandmas and grandpas.

Like light at the end of a tunnel threadgold shone a prelude to the outrageously spirited Benjamin James Schofield – a blessing of a man with his biblical double going and jovial disposition. Heaven-sent Schofield, with his majestic play on words, arrested the room and stirred it with mirth. Alas, Peacock returned with his risk-taking member of the audience participating on stage and sadly the bubbles of glee burst.

The uphill task of ‘bringing back the room’ was undertaken graciously by the compere and enthusiastically a warm welcome was elicited for man of the night Steve Royle. This electrically-charged comedian, a saving grace amongst graces, provided an impressive laugh-a-second idiosyncratic routine encompassing visual thrill with personable skill and flair.

With 2-4-1 tickets, Comedy Central is definitely worth a visit. Contact www.liverpoolcomedycentral.co.uk or call 0151 702 5834.

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Sorry Comments Closed

Comment left by Derry Hunter on 13th August, 2009 at 11:01
Funnily enough I was in attendance at this night and witnessed a great night of comedy in an excellent well organised comedy venue. Ray Peacock excelled throughout and is one of the best comperes of the circuit. Unfortunately the evening was somewhat sullied by a very tedious, persistent and grossly untalented heckler who Ray Peacock very graciously handled and even furnished with his own spot. He was actually loudly booed by the audience for his attempts of sabotage. Blue Thursdays encourage and foster new talent on the scene and its audience appreciate that. I agree, its DEFINITELY worth a visit.

Comment left by Georgia Samsone on 13th August, 2009 at 14:49
It should perhaps be noted that for myself, the night was ruined, not by the compere (who was great) or any of the acts (also great), but by the disruptive members of the audience, who were revealed on the night in question to be the writer of this review (who walked around and in front of audience members all evening taking flash photos) and her partner who was brought onto the stage to be humiliated after persistently shouting out. The reviewer proved herself artistically bankrupt on the evening in question, and now has proved herself ethically bankrupt with this "review" which actually should read; "This show could have been brilliant but me and my friend ruined it".

Comment left by Georgia Samsone on 13th August, 2009 at 14:56
http://www.catalystmedia.org.uk/issues/nerve10/greedy_jesus.htm This is the man who was heckling that the compere brought onto the stage. And bizzarely this would be a review written by this self-same reviewer, about the bloke who was with her on the night in question. So she is using her position here to promote her friends/partners, whilst putting the boot in on others. Does this not competely compromise the integrity of this site? Without question. Has this reviewer got even a modicum of artistic or journalistic integrity? Not a bit of it. You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves.

Comment left by Alicia Rose on 13th August, 2009 at 19:21
In response to the previous comments left by Georgia Samsone. In my defence, I did not walk around in front of audience members taking flash photos all evening. For the majority of the night I took photos from my chair, without flash (and can verify this by the digital information embedded in each jpeg) - the only time I moved forward out of my seat to take flash photos was when Steve Royle appeared on stage (his photo accompanies the review) at this time others got up, came to front of stage and took flash photos too... I then sat in a chair at front of stage to continue taking pictures of Steve. You are overtly exaggerating on that particular part of your comment. Also if you take the time to read the review carefully I state that the 'bubbles of glee' from comic Benjamin Schofield were burst when the risk-taking Ray Peacock allowed Greedy Jesus up on stage. That means, Greedy Jesus was unfunny and nosedived. I think Ray Peacock presented a rare opportunity for a member of the audience to be allowed on stage and it could have been one of those moments where a new comedian star was born and that is a very good thing. Remember please that Ray Peacock did not know who either Greedy Jesus or I were at the time of his heckling and the resulting invitation to stage. It was only after the interval and the compere's duties of reading the comment cards which gave him the information about who either of us were. Ray Peacock then decided to divulge that to the audience. Up until that point we had been anonymous. Miss Samsone, please, for the record and for everybody interested in this, do point out exactly where I mention and promote 'Greedy Jesus' in the review? Other than here and now, where have i written his name? - this has only come about because you have made comment and decided to root up a past review. It is quite clear that you have actually promoted him more than I. In respect of my artistic bankruptcy too, if you remember, I actually received a genuine round of applause when Benjamin Schofield asked for 'favourite words' and I did shout one out yes (physiognomy), and he asked me what it meant which I responded to, which he then gave genuine delighted enlightenment about the word and said (quote) 'give that lady a round of applause for informing us'... I feel strongly that you owe Nerve an apology for stating they have 'compromised the integrity of the site' - I never mentioned Greedy Jesus - you did.

Comment left by simon meyer on 13th August, 2009 at 19:51
seems to me the reviewer has a point! she's not promoting anyone other than the venue here !!! and why is the lady getting all hot and bothered about the review i think it sides with the comediens who were good and great and says the compere were'nt so great but got better plus he had a bit of a task at bringing back the room - which he did - and the reviewer states this (in her final paragraph) that he done this graciosly so i get the feeling she's siding with him and not this other character who i won't mention for fear of giving him more covderage! oh and you know what this could all have been real different if the guy had been funny and everyone had laughed at his stuff and loved his impromptu stage spot - people are fickle - miss samsone the review is one person's thoughts of a nightand none of those reviewers for nerve even get paid - if you'd like to vounteer, give it a go, see how many will either side with or against your view

Comment left by karen chimes on 14th August, 2009 at 11:22
georgia samsone is intellectually stunted, her attack unreasonable, her argument flawed. i have read the article several times and still cannot find where this reviewer is promoting a friend? i was there on the night and one thing i did pick up on was that ray peacock made one member of the audience very uncomfortable by stating that her boyfriend had to run naked through the venue as a forfeit, she said 'if he does that i will leave' peacock said, 'i wasn't asking you' - where is the comedy in making someone feel uncomfortable? comedy central is supposed to be a place where you go to get a good feeling through laughter, peacock displayed no material of his own, instead he used the crowd throughout to invoke a titter