July 2013

Opinion: Dynamic Duos – The Secret of Successful Double Acts

Interesting to read about Griff Rhys Jones paying tribute to Mel Smith in the Radio Times this week while also pointing out how different they were. “I invited Mel to my country cottage and he never took his coat off. He took me to the races and I read a book. I dragged him sailing and he asked to 'go in' when we were halfway home and 30 miles from the nearest port. He loved a drink. I am teetotal. He never carried a credit card. I never have cash. He never went for a walk. I run ten miles a week. He worshipped Stephen Sondheim.

Film Review: The World's End

I finally managed to see The World's End last night. Not at a press screening but in a normal cinema with normal people. Or as normal as people in Brixton get. I was expecting to sit there irritated by phone calls and texting all around me, but maybe it was the quality of the film, maybe it was the specially-shot Alan Partridge request to turn off phones beforehand or maybe it is just the kind of people that go to the Ritzy cinema, but I didn't see one phone screen light up during the 109 minutes.

Opinion: A Star Rating Is Born

"Three stars but it read like a Five." Well, that's it. I'm joining the star brigade. When the Edinburgh Fringe kicks off I'll be reviewing as many shows as I can while retaining my sanity and will be giving each of them a star-rating out of five as all major comedy coverage now does.

Preview: The Week Ahead July 29 - Aug 3

Contrary to popular opinion not quite every comedian is migrating to Edinburgh this week. Russell Brand is in London trying out material for his Messiah Complex World Tour at the Soho Theatre from Wednesday. It will probably be a fairly rough incarnation of the finished show, but even a rough Brand is often more fun than a lot of polished stand-ups.

Opinion: If You Want to Laugh Watch a Comedian, Not A Pop Star

Do you want conclusive proof that a journalist will do anything to avoid proper work?

Opinion: Is The Edinburgh Bubble About to Burst?

There is a section in Daniel Kitson's current show, After The Beginning. Before The End, in which he talks about his difficulties with relationships. When he loves someone they don't love him and vice versa. One always wants what one can't have. I've had the same sort of thought this morning, only in terms of reviewing shows.

The Week Ahead: July 22 - 28

There is really only one game in town this week when it comes to live comedy in London. Late last week Daniel Kitson announced a short run at the Battersea Arts Centre of his latest show, After the Beginning Before the End, from July 24.

Review: Latitude

Normally when I go to Latitude I plan my assault on the Festival with the precision of Montgomery planning El Alamein. Spreadsheets and marker pens have been involved. Frankly though this is easier than it sounds as it usually involves simply stocking up on provisions and plonking myself down in the comedy tent for the day and then catching a few bands in the evening and dipping into the Cabaret/Literature and Poetry tents.

Opinion: Should Woody Allen make a stand-up comeback?

I've written before about comedians making comebacks after a period away from the stage. David Baddiel, for instance, is back in Edinburgh in a few weeks for the first time in 15 or 16 years depending on what website you read. Either way it is a long time but not as long as the hiatus since Woody Allen last did stand-up, which must surely be in terms of decades rather than years.

TV Review – Family Tree, BBC2

It's directed by Christopher "Spinal Tap" Guest, it stars homme du jour Chris O'Dowd. What could possibly go wrong with Family Tree? I've just watched the first episode and I'm totally thrown. It is clearly intended to be a comedy, but so far the laughs are painfully thin on the ground. Though this may just be me. Previewers who I am usually in step with seem to be garlanding Family Tree with plaudits, while I stand at the side, politely not getting it.

Pages

Zircon - This is a contributing Drupal Theme
Design by WeebPal.