1 post tagged “comedy”
Whilst having pre-match lunch with Pat Rolink at the Dumbarton v. Albion Rovers match on Wednesday, he asked if I'd ever been to Jongleurs comedy Club in Glasgow where is is a regular compere. I hadn't and he then suggested I go to a show - "it's comedy rock and roll!", was his assertion. Never one to knock back a freebie, and dovetailing rather nicely as it did with Sue's birthday, I took up Pat's invitation and we went there last night with some friends.
It's an amazing place and is the basement of a huge cinema complex. In fact it is on the site of the old Apollo Theatre in Renfield Street. The club can seat 380 and they serve food (basic but very good value) before the acts come on. There is capacity for nearly 700 once the tables are cleared. There are Jongleurs' all over the place and it looks like they have a winning formula.
There were four comics on last night, Matt Kirshen, Rick Right, Mark Walker and Pat Rolink. It's easy to see why Pat gets the job as compere. He is really at ease with a Glasgow audience - "where are you from?" he asks a table "Royston and Provanmill!" comes the reply. "This'll be a nice wee change from comparing machette sizes for you!" says the bold Pat. Like most folk I rolled around with laughter at much of the comedy last night but can hardly remember a gag.
Matt Kirshen was I feel a little too "Home Counties" for the audience who had been warmed up by Pat's quickfire coarse but hilarious opening routine (by the time Pat had used the C word four times, I spotted Sue trying to give a disapproving look through the laughter). Matt was really getting very little response from the audience but they listened politely and there were ripples of laughter throughout his act. Maybe he got the sympathy vote for being young.
Rick Right's routine includes his own accompaniment on guitar. He's American and his accent suits his material. He did some well known songs with his own made up lyrics (hey! maybe I could try this stuff!) amongst which he did the Who's Pinball Wizard and Johnny Cash's Fulsom Prison Blues, juxtaposing the lyrics of the two songs. I thought he was alright (sic) and so did the rest of the audience.
The final comic, Mark Walker is Irish but he is a master of accents (including the Glasow one). He was loud, animated, in your face and very funny. "I'm just back from Afghanistan and Bosnia entertaining the troops - it was a bit like Easterhouse without the panache!". A couple of guys tried to heckle him but he was well able for them. He did a brilliant impersonation of Billy Connolly.
The whole show was well organised, fast moving and well presented. At the beginning of each stint flashing lights and "Let Me Entertain You!" blared out. If you want to do something a little bit different I can thoroughly recommend Jongleurs. We were entertained.
