The Comedy Club Limited

Show reviewed: The Comedy Club @ Theatre Royal, Margate - 13th March

By: Martin Holdcroft - January’s Joke Competition Winner

The Theatre Royal in Margate is one of the oldest (and quaintest) theatres in the country, and it was my pleasure to go there as the guest of Comedy Club to see three acts from their professional ranks.

It was quite a packed theatre that night (if the queue at the bar was any kind of indication) and the atmosphere was quite buzzing. The show kicked off on time and the compere arrived on the stage, looking like a man who’d just woken up on a park bench.

Brian Higgin’s stage persona is one of carefully-crafted confusion. From his “hairstyle” - more Sid Vicious than Vidal Sassoon - to his rambling, disconnected routine, it was a demonstration of how to lead your audience gently towards killer punchlines.  Brian worked hard to determine who his audience was, and it showed in his ability to keep their full attention, and to keep them laughing at his outrageously distasteful view on children and his poor poor wife. But although he was portraying a man of intolerance and outrage, there was always that twinkle in his eye which ensured there was a warmth from the audience too.

Brian opened the show and rambled on for ten minutes or so, before introducing Chambers & Nettleton - gasp shock horror - a female double act! It’s well known that female double acts can either be exquisite or excrutiating, I think Chambers & Nettleton were on their way to exquisite with their very feisty and fast-paced routine. I can’t remember who was who, but one was tall, blonde and in control, and the other one was shorter, dark-haired and seemed to be totally out of control. It was this combination that formed the basis for their act, and between songs they let us in on their very individual female takes on men, food and the wearing of burkhas!

After the interval Brian Higgins once again roamed the stage, setting us up for the final act. This was Mike Gunn, a dapper-looking shaven-headed guy whose hangdog expression hid a wicked and sharp humour. His smooth and assured style delivered some substantial laughter from the audience, it was like being tickled by a man with three arms, always the sneaky unexpected line delivered with impeccable timing.

Then there was the heckler, this particular “gentleman” began by contributing to the routine, only to end up on the receiving end of some quite devastating and well deserved comebacks. It certainly added to the very “live” feel of this comedy gig!

It was a great reminder that live comedy is that rare thing, a spontaneous, unique and hugely enjoyable night out. After the show was over, the audience piled out into the night. Judging by their continuing laughter and good mood, they shared with me a fantastic night, and it’s something I’ll definitely hope to do again soon. Do yourself a favour, experience comedy at it’s very best, and get along to a Comedy Club night soon.

ps. I have not been paid to write this review, as you can probably tell by the Tesco Value grammar.

Martin Holdcroft.