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Critic's choice: Top five comedy shows
By Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard 01.02.07
Can you keep up? Adam Bloom afloat on a stream of consciousness with The Boat Show
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A Richard Pryor-ish Reginald D Hunter and Kevin Bridges, a man being called the new Billy Connolly, are among Bruce Dessau's comedy picks.
Adam Bloom
The Tattershall Castle, SW1
Manic, majestic Adam Bloom is the star turn at this waterborne venue, floating on the Thames opposite the London Eye. His brain is surely far too fast for his own good - when not gigging he likes to unwind by doing Rubik's Cubes. Plus Markus Birdman, Stefano Paolini (see below) and MC Raymond Mearns. (07932 658895). Fri 2 Feb, 8pm.
Rich Hall
Windsor Arts Centre
It's a return to curmudgeonly observational humour for the comedian best known in recent years for his tatoo'd alter ego, redneck songster Otis Lee Crenshaw. Hall is one of the coolest storytellers on the circuit with a CV that goes back to David Letterman's hit TV show over a decade ago, so expect a veritable avalanche of pin-sharp gags with an absurdist edge. (01753 859336). Tonight, 8.30pm.
Terry Alderton/ Reginald D Hunter
Laughing Boy Club @ AKA Bar, WC1
This excellent bill features something to tickle all tastes. Alderton mixes mainstream end-of-the-pier gagsmithery with smart impressions, while Hunter will give punters something to think about with his Richard Pryor-ish musings on sex and race. Young compere Kevin Bridges is also worth catching - he's been variously called the Scottish Peter Kay and the new Billy Connolly. (020 7836 0110). Tonight, 7.15pm.
Bad Film Club
Battersea Arts Centre, SW11
We've all sat in cinemas and laughed at celluloid turkeys, but double act Nicko and Joe have taken this idea to its logical conclusion, building up a cult following for their screenings of naff films with live commentaries from fine stand-ups such as Stewart Lee and Phil Nichol. Tonight N & J themselves do the honours for hip hop's answer to Footloose: Breakdance the Movie. (020 7223 2223). Sat 3 Feb, 9pm.
Will Smith
Red Rose Comedy Club, N7
Top of the fops Smith's speciality is sending up his floppy-fringed fogeyness; he might only be thirtysomething but he yearns for a bygone era when Enid Blyton's Famous Five was the nearest thing to a street gang and he doesn't get bullied for ironing his jeans. Support comes from sound-effects maestro Stefano Paolini and Pete Cain. MC is Dan Willis. (08700 600100). Sat 3 Feb, 9pm.
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Reader views (2)
I went to see Harold Pinter play, The Caretaker, at Richmond Theatre on Saturday 3rd February 2007. It was an excellent play and very well acted by Nigel Harman, Con O’Neill, and David Bradley. There were moments for comedy and sadness all portrayed from a one-set room which worked well.
All the critics who have slated Nigel Harman as being wooden should go and see this play when it arrives at Kilburn Tricycle Theatre in March 2007 for a one month stint, to see that he is not a one trick pony after beng in Eastenders and is indeed a talented theatrical actor.
- Daniella C., Stanmore
I have not long been home from England and have not seen any of these shows but will go when and if I go over this year. I have been going to England for the last three years as I have two sons living there. One is in Streatham and the other in West Croydon.
The funniest show I have ever seen is The Menopausal Musicals. It is an absolute MUST SEE for both men and women. I believe it is going to England after it has finished in New Zealand.
- Pat Corbett, Paekakariki,Kapiti Coast , New Zealand
