Review – Screaming Blue Murder, Underground at the Derngate, Northampton, 4th October 2019

Screaming Blue MurderYou wait months for a Screaming Blue Murder then, a week later, another one comes around… not that I’m complaining. There isn’t better value, great quality comedy to be had around these parts, imho. Once again, the Underground was pretty packed, although the front rows were a bit empty because of the cowards defaulting to the back of the room, which always creates a challenge.

Maureen YoungerFor one week only our host was the fantastic Maureen Younger, a feisty performer if ever there was one, whom we’ve seen on many occasions at Screaming Blues, in Edinburgh, and as part of an Upfront Comedy line-up. She likes to get to know the front rows (difficult if there’s hardly anyone there, but she persevered) and so we met big-hearted Big Tommy who threw himself into the whole evening, John the documentary-maker (we’re so metropolitan elite here, darling), posh Georgia (who wasn’t that posh after all) and the quiet couple tucked away at the far end who didn’t want to get in anyone’s way. Maureen’s a great MC, with the necessary quick brain and a host of hilarious responses, and by the time she introduced the first act, it was all going swimmingly.

Michael LeggeWe’d seen two of the acts before, so pretty much knew what to expect from them, but, unexpectedly, it turned out to be an evening of surprises. First up was Michael Legge, who was in a very in-your-face mood, delivering his quirky material with occasionally challenging faux-aggression; but all very enjoyable and you know you’re in very safe hands with the experienced Mr Legge. However…. a group of people towards the back started talking quite animatedly, clearly not paying attention to the show at all, and making it difficult for the rest of us to hear Mr Legge’s bon mots. He started to deal with it as though they were heckling him, but in fact they were simply ignoring him, and getting on with their own conversation. Mr Legge wasn’t having any of that; and then the room divided. Us nice people at the front had the show to ourselves, the ignorant idiots at the back who couldn’t be arsed to pay attention, were ridiculed and excluded. He was tempted to call a halt to his part of the act, but Mr Legge carried on with some very enjoyable material about Mrs Brown’s Boys (I’ll say no more) but the first interval arrived in an atmosphere of rather unsettling edginess.

Harriet DyerOur next act was Harriet Dyer, whom we’ve also seen before. Hers can be quite a divisive act, in that she has a very I’m mad, me persona which, depending on the mood of the audience, can either fall flat on its face or can soar the heights of surreal hilarity. Fortunately for us all, she was on brilliant form and managed to unite the divided audience in appreciation of her ludicrously funny act. She uses the physicality of her rather unruly, bendy body to great effect, as well as having some totally way-out routines, such as her brother taking an interview covered in spiders. Brilliantly funny; and for her ability to unite an unruly crowd, I think she should become the new Minister for Brexit.

Matt WelcomeLast up, and in a change of programme, we had Matt Welcome. We’d not seen him before, and he has a very different style. Laid back, inquisitive, personal; as his name suggests, he welcomes you into his world to explore a sequence of odd observations where he takes ideas to way-out, bizarre extremes. It’s all very nicely judged and cleverly thought through, and is entertaining rather than belly-laugh-triggering. If I’d been programming, I’d have put Mr Welcome on first and Mr Legge on last… although how that would have worked out with the unruly bunch at the back I don’t know.

So, all in all, a very good night, if a trifle odd one! Next Screaming Blue Murder is on 25th October, but in a triumph of comedy clashes, that’s also the night that Ben Elton has sold out the Derngate Auditorium…

The Edinburgh Fringe One-Weeker 2015 – Michael Legge: Tell it Like it is, Steve

Michael LeggeGiving ourselves something of a lie-in, our first show today doesn’t actually start until this afternoon! It’s an hour of comedy with the unpredictably spiky Mr Michael Legge. Here’s what the blurb says: “What’s the bloody point of anything ever? I don’t know. What you asking me for? Anyway, that’s my new show. Starts at noon. Bloody noon! Christ. Michael Legge, as seen on The Alternative Comedy Experience, returns with his new show about meeting people and why it’s always awful. Want to meet your heroes? Yes? Considered whether they want to meet you? No? This is the tale about how Michael’s heroes made the mistake of meeting him. ‘Beautifully crafted fury’ (Scotsman). ‘…vitriolic observational stand-up at its finest’ (Chortle.co.uk).”

M LeggeThis is a great subject for a comedy show, because whenever you meet your heroes, they always have a knack of disappointing you. And the opposite is true, if you ever meet people who you have always instinctively not liked or not trusted, they darn well turn out to be nice people! So annoying! We’ve seen Mr Legge once before at one of our Screaming Blue Murder nights in Northampton and he was ace. He’s actually coming back this autumn but on a date that we can’t manage, so I feel entirely justified in spending some of my quality Edinburgh time in his company. He’s wrong, it’s not on at noon, it’s on at 12:10, in the Stand Comedy Club 2, and it lasts for an hour, so check back around 1.15 to find out just how brilliant he was. You can also find out about our next show.

Update:

As suspected, lots of meaty material for an hour full of angry railing against young people, heroes and hero-worshippers, but above all against himself for being a prick. (It’s self-confessed, so I’m not being critical). Ever wondered what a safe-Kettering holiday is? You might find out. Great entertainment, nicely deriding some of the worst aspects of Fringe-life too. Good stuff!

Review – Screaming Blue Murder, Derngate, Northampton, November 12th

Stan StanleySo for the first time the Screaming Blue Murder night was held on a Friday instead of a Thursday. A positive trend I think, as the club was full, and we arrived a little late so that we had no alternative but to sit in the front row and cope with the interaction with the comics! Actually it wasn’t too bad, as we had our friend Jürgen with us and he gladly played the role of “Comedy German”, taking some of the heat off us.

Michael Legge Another difference was that we had a different compere for a change. Stan Stanley, very entertaining, not so much a compere more of an additional act, which was fine; some good observations and excellent physical comedy, and much as I like Dan Evans our usual host, it was good to get a whole new bunch of material to link the acts.

First was Michael Legge. Engaging, fast material, thought provoking, and very funny. Involved me (a bit) in the act but it wasn’t at all hostile, so I felt very comfortable joining in. I’d happily see his act again.

Anthony King Next was Anthony King. This guy reminded us of a friend of ours, and his deadpan style added to that! He often corpsed through his deadpan stuff and that was actually very endearing and funny. He had some clever musical material but not all of it worked. It was during the course of his act that some people at the back of the hall started to make up their own jokes which must have been very irritating for the people surrounding them. Fortunately Stan Stanley told them to shut up before the final act!

Earl Okin Finally we had Earl Okin. Another funny musical act, that traded on his being an unusual sex symbol, much of which was excellent and carried us along with him.

The whole thing worked very well because of the larger audience, so I hope they keep up the Friday nights. This was definitely one of their better shows.