It had been a while since I had managed to visit the monthly all-female comedy night entitled Wicked Wenches, a regular feature that is run by The Stand Comedy Club, both in Edinburgh and also in Glasgow as well, but my schedule was clear for this month’s extravaganza, so together with many more, I made my way  to the gig in plenty of time prior to the start.
As is normal on these occasions our host for the night was diminutive former lawyer Susan Calman.  Ms Calman is the ideal host for such occasions as her natural chatty style lends itself to gathering information, identifying targets and warming up the crowd for proceedings to follow. The lady also has a whole repertoire of funny stories and observations too which are interspersed with the other compere duties. Susan has built her reputation over the last few years and it is pleasing to see media excursions on the radio and on Jason Manford’s Comedy Rocks TV show bringing her talents to the masses.
Susan as always in good form and the opening job done it was time to introduce the opening act  
Kim Macaskill,, a lady I hadn’t seen for a while, as a late substitute on the bill.
Now Kim has always been a very competent comedian with a set that is always well prepared and funny, so I was expecting her to go down well. I was not disappointed. She is not threatening, and has a fairly wide range of topics to discuss. Okay not too much of her material is ground breaking, but does that matter? I’m not so sure it does. Entertainment is the name of the game and Kim certainly entertained one and all with her set on the night.
The first interval followed , before Ms Calman reappeared and produced some really funny material on such diverse subjects as wedding outfits, the Brownies and daytime TV before introducing the first  of the two second section acts, that being  Glaswegian Rhona Mckenzie, someone I hadn’t seen before. A finalist in the 2009 Funny Women Awards, Ms McKenzie played an entertaining set packed full of gags, about size issues, her new baby, her childhood and big  knickers!! amongst other stuff. Her set was well received by all even if it was less that challenging in subject matter. Certainly a good way to open part two.
Catie Wilkins was the other act in part two again the first time I had come across this tall, slim blonde English woman. Taking to the stage with confidence she again had a fully packed set, and a novel spin or two on things. Starting with some local Edinburgh based material gradually moving onto tried and tested subjects parents, e-mails, ‘talking dirty ‘ and a couple of her dreams in life. Ms Wilkins was often self deprecating in her material, but delivered it all with a well practised poise.  I thoroughly enjoyed her set and will make a point of checking her out again in the near future hopefully.
The second interval and prize draw took place next and before we all knew it headline act Katherine Ryan was taking over the club. It had been a couple of years since I had seen this quirky London based Canadian, the last time being when she was runner up in The Amused Moose Comedy Starlets Award during Fringe 2008.
Since then she has become a mother and a portion of her set involved this. She also majored on her nationality and their relationships with their neighbours the USA, her early life in the UK and even finished with a Katy Perry pastiche with a ‘backing dancer’ drawn form the audience.
Ms Ryan was never still bounding from one topic to another one side of the stage to another, in truth not a great distance at The Stand, and interspersing many of her gags, especially the slightly more off ones, with her unique high pitched giggle. I was a lot more impressed with her set on this night than I had been on previous viewings. She is a different comedian, and one that has matured from the Ms Ryan of a couple of years ago. And one you wouldn’t

want to miss.
This is a monthly all-women night as mentioned earlier. To see what else is on offer at Scotland’s top comedy venues, both in Edinburgh and Glasgow check out their website  www.thestand.co.uk and be prepared for information on their new venture coming this year in Newcastle too.
Reviewed by Geoff