The World Stands Up!
Have you heard about the one with an Australian, an Englishman, an American and a Scot who walk into a theatre during the Fringe? Those clever people at Paramount Comedy channel have not only heard about it, they have presented it during 2006 in a late night spectacular at George Square Theatre. Each of the three nights is compered by a different Scots born stand-up, initially Fred McAuley, then Frankie Boyle and finally the one we saw ‘Ole kiltie himself’, the effervescent Craig Hill. Hill is a master of his craft, bitchy, camp, very funny and he reacts and interacts with his audience as naturally as breathing. He warms up the audience, and then introduces the Irish sounding, but very Aussie, Kitty Flannigan. Having seen Ms Flannigan on the telly I was looking forward to seeing her live, and although she had a somewhat slow start, soon put a couple of hecklers in their place and her set was generally very well received by one and all. A touch more Craig, and then onto perhaps the real reason we attended in the first place, the larger than life scary weirdo that is Mitch Benn. We have both been fans of this Radio Four star for more years than we care to remember, and as a purveyor of funny songs interspersed with even funnier stories, he always takes some beating. Like us all Benn is now a little older, but still has the ability to entertain and does so in his inimitable style for his entire, but all too short, set. Craig once more, then onto the headliner Steve McGrew. I must admit that he had not crossed my comedy radar before so I was unprepared for the feast I was about to receive. This engaging American had the audience in the palm of his hand almost from the second he hit the stage and they were still there half an hour later at the completion of his set. The gags and stories came thick and fast, the audience were in stitches, three young lads near us were almost doubled up in agony they were laughing so much. The guy is class in a glass and I really can’t wait to see more of him, the only reservation would be if I could cope with an hour of this hilarity, as I was almost exhausted by the set half that length. All in all a wonderful way to wind up the Fringe for us Here’s to 2007! Bring it on!! *****