The Secret Reviewer #18: Tickling the Pros

Every month our clandestine critic reveals the murky truths behind that infamous trade, and live comedy generally. This month: The best laughs are harder to get.

When we think back to the stuff that got us into comedy, early on, certain key events were probably fairly common mind-blowers: the captivating panto, the kid-friendly sitcom, visits from the flaky uncle with no life but an absolutely cracking stand-up collection.

But there's a rarer occurrence that really hit a nerve with future comedy nerds, a moment where we sensed something out of the ordinary had happened, something genuinely clever, funny, and a...