Local Laughs at Bearcat Comedy

Viv Ellis reviews last week's show

Two local comedians took to the stage at last week’s Bearcat Comedy at the Viaduct.

Andy Hill was back having done a try out last year. Opened by pointing out of the window and telling us he was from Pitshanger “That’s about £150,000 in that direction” (and boy don't we know it). Some very funny, affected middle class stuff about dressing your kids in North Face gilets, coming to Lidl in Hanwell ‘to see how the other half lives’ and using his children to help him pick up yummy mummies (not the phrase he used but you get the drift) in the local park.

In contrast Jeff Stephenson hails from the Cuckoo Estate and wasted no time in picking up Andy Hill’s baton, “that’s about £150,000 in that direction”. (That is one of the good things at the club, the comedians aren’t in a dressing room – they wish! – they sit at the back listening to the other acts and taking stock of the audience.)

Self assured and clearly very experienced, Jeff (who seemed to think we were all quite old!) isn’t going to win any prizes for cutting edge originality but his material – about budget travel, cruise ships and Crackerjack (maybe he’s right and we are all over the hill)  kept the laughs coming.

Top of the bill was Zoe Lyons who’s famous from her appearances on Michael MacIntyre, Mock The Week – even Newsnight. She’s razor sharp on stage and handled the audience really well. Guided us through her obsession with Tapas (and splitting the bill,) going to Amsterdam the joys of wine in boxes, gay marriage and death. All with expert facial expressions, voices and icily clipped delivery. Very funny

Special alert for fans of "Phoenix Nights" : Justin Moorhouse (young Kenny) will be at the club next week. Tickets will go fast.

Viv Ellis

19th January 2015