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Critic's choice: Top comedy shows
Evening Standard 02.08.07
Witty: The Ornate Johnsons offer an Edwardian-themed evening of sketches at the Arts Theatre
Look here too
Edwardian-themed sketches from The Ornate Johnsons, more from the Camden Fringe and Mock The Week's Andy Parsons are among the top comedy gigs.
The Ornate Johnsons
Arts Theatre
An Edwardian-themed soiree from the slick, witty sketch troupe whose members have written for numerous TV shows and boast one performer who has impersonated Charles Kennedy on the box. Brace yourselves for a comic look at the Polar expeditions, the lives of the Pankhursts and the sinking of the Titanic. (0870 060 1742). Until 11 August, 9.30pm, Sundays 7.30pm.
Camden Fringe
Etcetera Theatre and Liberties Bar, NW1
More frolics at this ambitious north London micro-festival. Among the treats this week are sets from sharp-tongued San Franciscan Scott Capurro (Liberties, tonight, 9pm) and accomplished storyteller Paul Kerensa (Liberties, 4, 6,7,9-11 Aug, 7.30pm), who limbers up for the Edinburgh Fringe with a preview of his bible-bashing show, Genesis. (020 7482 4857) Until 26 August.
Rhys Darby
Headliners, W4
Kiwi comic Darby ought to be more famous by now but somehow his rubbery physical comedy, somewhere between early period Rowan Atkinson and Lee Evans, has failed to take telly by storm. He's always great fun live though, so catch him here alongside Kevin Hayes and Dave Thompson. MC is Dave Hadingham. (020 8566 4067) Friday 3 and Saturday 4 August, 8pm.
Andy Parsons
Hampstead Comedy Club
If you look up the word "reliable" in the dictionary there ought to be a picture of Andy Parsons. This shaven-headed topical comic and star of BBC's Mock The Week has a gag for every occasion and a put-down for every heckle. He comperes a bill here which boasts the talents of wordsmith Owen O'Neill, Addy Van Der Borgh, Debra-Jane Appleby and Marlon Davis. (020 7633 9539) Saturday 4 August, 8pm.
Milton Jones
Covent Garden Comedy Club
Another top-notch line-up at a time of year when most comedians are grafting at the Edinburgh Fringe or relaxing at their Tuscany villas. Jones is the master of the artfully crafted gag - imagine Jimmy Carr without the ironic political incorrectness. Cruttenden does a mean Tony Blair impression - we've yet to see if he can do Gordon Brown, though. Plus Andrew Bird and Tommy Campbell. (07960 071340) Saturday 4 August, 7pm.
