Laughing Boy Comedy Club review

Laughing Boy Comedy Club

If you're after big-name, telly comedians, anyone who lives in the capital simply needs to head to a well-established club night and, more often than not, they'll get to see an Addison or Howard (non-Mock The Week comics are available) trying out new material for just a few quid. But even us lucky Londoners don't often come across a line-up that comprises six such comedians on a single night...

That was precisely the case with Laughing Boy Comedy Club on 21st September, though, which played host to comics preparing for appearances on BBC One's stand-up show Live at the Apollo - being run by Off the Kerb Productions does lend a hand when it comes to getting a famous face or six on the bill.

And a hugely strong bill it was too, starting with Mark Watson, who was as linguistically inventive and sharp as ever, despite having stepped off a plane from Australia just that afternoon. He told us about the elaborate lies he spins to get out of the inevitable "tell us a joke" reaction that's forthcoming whenever he's asked about his job, and bemoaned the needless complications he encountered when trying to purchase a single carrot. He seemed to have most fun chatting about a man in the audience who looked spookily like him, though - "he'll just have to come with me to the Apollo" he said, pragmatically.

Seann Walsh

Andi Osho gave us a polished set about dating, but she was probably at her most entertaining when she had to deal with a young couple in the front row who, shall we say, didn't appear to be entirely au fait with comedy audience etiquette (as did most of the subsequent acts, in fact). "Carry on" said the gent when she tried to engage with him; "no, I'll decide when this is finished" she said with a glint that was part 'we're having fun' and part 'don't mess.' Nicely done.

Seann Walsh (pictured) got one of the biggest reactions of the night, and deservedly so. Observational comics have their detractors, but there is still something special about the comedy of recognition when it is done properly and with creativity as it is with Walsh. His extra ingredient is great physical humour, and it was used here to great effect, bringing stories about video games, fights with siblings and falling asleep on the tube vividly to life.

"I'm the only comic to come on here with notes!" said Shappi Khorsandi as she bounced onto the stage, a few sheets of paper in hand. In fact, ramshackle Shappi is something of a revelation - her descriptions of bad dates are a whole lot naughtier and swearier than we're used to seeing on the TV. It's not often you call for comedians to be less slick... but I really rather liked it.

Jason Byrne tells us it's been years since he gigged at a place like this - dingy basement, for the record - but I can't imagine he plays a small room like this any differently from how he'll approach the Live at the Apollo recording. We got a smuttier version of the material, perhaps, but in essence it's the same bellowing, high-energy, throw-yourself-around silliness that has always made Byrne such a fun watch.

Damian Clark

Andrew Maxwell, I think it's fair to say, offers a rather more laid-back stand-up experience. He describes himself as a stoner, but surely he's the wisest stoner in the land, offering neat, insightful observations on big news stories, from the UK riots to Gaddafi's fall from power. I missed his full show at Edinburgh this year, but on the basis of this set, his Foster's Comedy Award nomination was well-deserved - this is thoughtful and intelligent stuff that never forgets to be funny.

A word or two of praise should certainly also go to the man holding this marathon gig together, Damian Clark (pictured). An Aussie comic based in Dublin, I've not caught him before, but I certainly hope to see him again soon. He performed his compere duties with ease and upbeat charm - and his material about the fun to be had while wearing a crash test dummy mask wouldn't be out of place on a certain primetime stand-up programme I could mention...

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