From a rotating rota of 25 comedians, today’s show featured the following: The MC (last year’s winner) Matt Rudge warmed the small audience up well (I wasn’t happy about his comments on Aussies but he does live with one) and then we got the first act, Elliot Tiney. Elliot had some good material but as he confessed, he was a bit off form due to being out last night celebrating and he was looking at the floor for much of his routine. Still, I got enough good stuff from his material to think he’ll be around on the circuit.
Next we had Richard Brophy who is from Perth (and Matt’s housemate). He had a very laid-back style and some very funny and surreal comedy. If you want to see how sick he is, he’s on with Matt at the Laughing Horse (International Stand-up) and he’s well worth seeing. Joanne Lau followed Richard and she was very good with the stereotype routines but then proved she had some proper material after that and, although her accent made us concentrate too hard (deliberate? Hmm), I think she was my favourite of the event.
Bryan Lacey was the fourth comedian on the bill and he did some solid comedy and a good routine. Pity about the anti-aussie references. Rosie Wilby, the penultimate act, did a routine about how she has just broken up with her girlfriend but it was no big deal. Again she was good and engaged well with the audience for her short set. The last act, Tom Deacon, did a very funny set about how his father tried to explain the birds & the bees, plus about the true meaning of gay.
All up, each act had only 8 minutes to make an impression on the punter’s mind and so would have been using their best material. Still, you lot don’t care as long as you know you’re going to see a very funny show and if you don’t like the comic on stage just wait a few minutes. This is definitely worth the money and I am sure that the others in the rota will be of an equivalent standard. See it!
Visit the Fringe Website for full show details.