| Hyena Comedy Club | The Hyena Comedy Club continues its third year in residency at Harrogate Theatre with the world's finest comedians appearing every month. For more information and tickets contact Harrogate Theatre on 01423 502116 |
Billed as a special night the established Hyena Comedy Club had laid on an evening of award-winning comedy at its now regular venue of Harrogate Theatre. And what a venue! If you’ve never been to Harrogate Theatre get yourself along, you’re missing out on a treat. It’s a beautiful old theatre and you can feel like you’ve travelled back in time to a Victorian Music Hall with décor of velvet, gilt cornicing and carved cherubs. On to the acts, and first up was Josie Long, she won Best Newcomer at last year’s Edinburgh Festival don’t you know? Well, if you didn’t know, you would by the end of the night 'cos she keeps reminding you throughout her set, as if seeking to use it to validate her performance. She’s one of those comedians with a message to impart. The title of her show is “Kindness and Exuberance” because, as she explains, “it’s a distillation of how you should live your life”. She had some really life-affirming advice which was lovely and she delivers it in such a sweet, wide-eyed and innocent way. But something was wrong. What was it? What is wrong? Oh, that’s it, I’m not laughing! And neither was anyone else apart from a scattering of girls laughing in that manic, slightly unstable “I wish she wasn’t my girlfriend, but I’m too scared to dump her” sort of way! Josie ploughed on oblivious, thinking she was doing well cos she wasn’t getting heckled. But this is Harrogate, we never heckle (unfortunately), far too polite! The late great Bill Hicks also had a life-affirming message to impart but he managed to do it in a hilarious way, and if you can‘t do it like that then you‘re not a comedian, you‘re a life-coach or counsellor! Josie comes across as really innocent and lovely and because of this I really wanted her to do well, I really did, so I could write a glowing review but... She sums up her philosophy by saying you should do whatever you want to do without being embarrassed about what other people think of you. That’s absolutely true but just don’t expect people to pay to watch you do whatever you want! Next up was Robin Ince, Time Out Comedy Award Winner and mate of Ricky Gervais with his show 'Robin Ince Isn’t Waving'. What he’s not waving at never becomes clear, but what is clear is that he has some funny material. He looks like a grey haired Ben Elton and his style is similar too. Very angry and disillusioned with modern life in a shouty and visually animated way. You’ll be mentally scarred by his re-enactment of “teenagers s******g against my bins!” He’s an observational comedian and that sort of comedy generally works best when the audience share your observations and views. Harrogate certainly seemed to. Targets for his ire ranged from budget airlines and teenagers through to creationists and the media (especially the Daily Mail) and last but not least himself. Accusing himself and his generation of not being able to grow up he enacts dancing in a club and then sneers at another clubber “Who’s that sad old t**t? …Oh, it’s a mirror!” Sheer class, as was the anecdote about the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. A mixed old night then, but as a regular to the Hyena Comedy Club, I’ll be going back again and if you’ve not been, give it a go, you’ll have a laugh! Mark Bexley | 
