| Evening Standard, 19-Nov-07 |
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LAUGH? I FELL OFF MY SOFA
He has appeared in front of Elton John and Victoria
Beckham and now Richard Herring is starring in
my lounge. This must be the strangest comedy gig
I have ever reviewed. And one of the most enjoyable,
too.
The event came about after promoter Tom Searle,
who has previously mounted decidedly eccentric
events in the Museum of London and on Hampstead
Heath, read my article criticising bland venues
and bemoaning the lack of decent parking spaces
and suggested setting up a free performance in
my house.
Searle devised a suitably eclectic line-up and,
in the style of an old Cliff Richard movie, put
the show on right here. Add 30 lucky friends and
website ticket winners plus cakes, biscuits and
piping hot tea and you had the makings of a unique
happening.
Compere Terry Saunders soon warmed everyone up
by confessing that he had recently been locked
in his own toilet before agreeing that was indeed
a comedy tale of the unexpected: "Steamed
up windows? Lots of couples arriving? The neighbours
are going to think it's wife-swapping."
Perrier Award Best Newcomer nominee Joanna Neary
sustained the momentum with a selection of nervy,
naughty characters that were so funny and inventive
that I soon stopped being anxious about the audience
spilling their drinks on my carpet.
After interval doughnuts and a queue for the
lavatory that made this resemble a party as much
as a gig, Edinburgh Festival hits Pappy's Fun
Club bounded onstage with their exuberant sketches
and witty songs. Maybe next door should have been
warned. It is not every day you have a man standing
by your front window in a toga claiming to be
Julius Caesar and pretending to be part of a close
harmony folk band.
Herring closed proceedings by complaining about
the state of my curtains before despairing at
his middle-aged love life. Near-the-knuckle stuff,
though my 15-year-old daughter in the front row
relished every innuendo as Herring recalled how
cracking gags in front of Elton John was like
performing "in the court of a medieval king
... or queen" before concluding that this
was much more enjoyable.
There was a single dilemma. How many stars does
one give when one is the host? Surely it has to
be five stars. A great gig, a splendid venue and,
most importantly, the best parking space I've
ever had.
Information: www.laughterinoddplaces.com.
Bruce Dessau
Original link: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/comedy/...
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