Comedy Review: An Audience With Stan Boardman

Image Source: Wirral Globe

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Stand-Up
Genre: Comedy
Date: September 29 2017
Location: Epstein Theatre, Liverpool, England

Although comedy has evolved into many different forms that we enjoy today, there's nothing like sitting back and enjoying the way that comedy used to be, especially when it comes to stand-up. Back in the day, a comedian would come on stage and tell jokes as opposed to telling stories, and while there's nothing wrong with the latter, there's something truly endearing about the former. Indeed, if one joke doesn't rattle your tickle bone, another one will come along shortly, and more than likely, you'll come away with plenty of jokes that you'll want to tell your family and friends.

Stan Boardman was one of the most popular stand-up comedians from the 1970s and 1980s, generally considering something of a peak period for the art of stand-up comedy. He's one of the more well-known local lads, and while his local dialect and accent are trademarks, it is his fondness for retelling stories relating to the Second World War and, in particular, the Germans who "bombed our chippies" which is most associated with Boardman. It's an act which was very popular at the time, and while later controversies and the modern political correctness have reduced Stan's public profile and the potential for him to grow his younger fan base in the manner of his contemporaries, he still has a large and loyal following, and he remains a popular figure on Merseyside.

So, it was a treat to sample his latest show at the Epstein Theatre, itself a hark back to the traditional ways of the good old days. Stan's act went down a storm with the audience, many of whom will have grown up watching Stan and, as detailed in the opening paragraph, a crowd who preferred the days when simple and enjoyable jokes rather than the occasionally bloated and increasingly outrageous stories of modern comics. As such, the laughs came often, and they came loud. Sometimes, it was Stan's delivery and facial expressions which made the joke rather than the material itself, but there were a plethora of classic jokes on display here. They also tied into modern culture on occasion, ensuring that this wasn't a recycled routine from years gone by.

Stan's act is such that whilst it appeals to the older generation, it's very easy for a younger attendee to understand how Boardman works and to "get" his wit and wonderful sense of humour. It doesn't take long to get comfortable with Stan, and the quick-fire nature of his jokes means that you're bound to be laughing within minutes of the show getting under way. The show would occasionally focus on specific themes, such as holidays and the recent celebration of his 50th wedding anniversary with his wife Vivienne, but they were packed with their own specific jokes rather than taking on a true story form. Case in point: Stan noticing that Vivienne's eye was caught by a diamond ring in the window of a jewellery shop, and Stan subsequently treating his wife ... by walking her back past the shop window to see the ring again.

What made this show a little different was the use of video footage from Stan's career, such as his appearances on The Comedians and The Des O'Connor Show (the latter of which led to some big controversy at the time due to the use of a joke where he frequently said "Fokker", live on television, before the watershed), as well as footage of other classic stand-ups from The Comedians and other television appearances. This helped provide some further structure to the show and some context to Stan detailing his life and times, dating back to his talents being discovered nationally on Opportunity Knocks. Actually, in the most positive tone that I can use to say this, some of the jokes featured on these clips were amongst the highlights of the evening due to their sheer simplicity. For instance, Mick Miller (one of the most underrated stand-up comedians ever, in my opinion) noted that there was a man at the door with a bald head, so he suggested that someone tell the visitor that he already has one. There were some production issues (an assistant named Jack was working on the show for the first time that day as a last-minute replacement, and did his best under the circumstances), but the audience were forgiving, and Stan even incorporated this into the act, as any great comedian will.

I also appreciated the manner in which Stan approached his material and his audience. Stan's jokes were occasionally a bit off-colour, but they were never malicious, and they were always designed to be a rib-tickler as opposed to a verbal bullet aimed at those he may not care for. It's all about making the people laugh, and in this environment, while it would be wrong to say that anything is fair game for a laugh, he can turn just about any situation into one that results in chuckles. As noted, it was clear too that Stan genuinely appreciates his audience, and moved the show along at their pace as opposed to his own, taking questions from attendees about his career and his opinions on various matters to close proceedings.

A mention, too, to Johnny Kennedy. A highly-experienced singer and entertainer, and a longtime friend of Boardman's, Kennedy opened both halves of the show with some musical numbers, most notably Nessun Dorma. Again taking on a light, nostalgic feel, these renditions were extremely powerful and occasionally emotional to Kennedy for personal reasons, and they added to the warm, fuzzy feelings of the show taking the audience back to a friendlier and freer time period.

Overall, then, I would definitely recommend Stan Boardman's show. While some lines may raise a few eyebrows, they are more than off-set by the wealth of classic jokes that you will hear, and the chance to hear one of the top comedians of the genre's most artistically-profitable period at work, at the age of 79 no less, is an opportunity that one rarely receives. Comedy has changed and it will continue to change, but don't ignore the work of a comic who will have inspired many of today's top stand-ups. If you're a fan of The Comedians and that era of comedy, and if you're of the generation who grew up watching the likes of Ken Dodd and Frank Carson, you'll love An Audience With Stan Boardman.

Overall Rating: 8/10 - Very Good

Comedy Review: Carl Hutchinson - The Fixer

Image Source: CarlHutchinson.net

Written By: Scott Gunnion

Format: Stand-Up
Genre: Comedy
Date: May 25 2017
Location: Epstein Theatre, Liverpool, England

I'd never heard of Carl Hutchinson until the day before the performance. I did no research and I didn't know what to expect. It relieves me to say that I was impressed with what I met with.

In the interest of being honest from the outset, I love a Geordie accent; at once foreign and yet deeply familiar. Does this make me biased? Maybe. But nonetheless, the main act was excellent.

Far removed from the reliably pious London-centric comedians who dominate comedy, this was as far from la-di-da as you could hope. Real Northern humour, unpretentious and uninhibited. There was no preaching and no attempts to indoctrinate, merely to entertain. No more, no less. The subject matter felt genuine and, as a Scouser, extremely close to home.

From the outset, Hutchinson set the tone for what was to come. There was a casual admission to p--sing in swimming pools, which we all do (just like we all p--s in the shower). It made me think "I like him, he reminds me of myself". And when he confessed to making prank calls to Childline, I suddenly felt nostalgic and was transported back to my similarly mischievous youth. This was a comedian who spoke my language. Incidentally, he revealed at one point that he was only a year older than me.

The crowds were far from swollen, but Hutchinson did not let it deter him, and he didn't begrudge the audience for it. They could easily have played the role of morbid orchestra, but he got them going and involved them in the show. Several protracted back-and-forwards with members of the audience showed that the man loved his fans and appreciated their support. It was hard not to like him.

The content was light on politics and better for being so. The title of the show (The Fixer) proved somewhat misleading. Yes, there was a segment on 'fixing' the ills of modern society, but this felt like something of a distraction and deviation from what felt like otherwise effortlessly-delivered soliloquies about being young, being Northern and being extremely drunk.

The set was far from rigidly scripted and constructed, and it amounted to a rich tapestry of well-structured anecdotes covering topics as rudimentary as sick days and takeaways. High ideas slain in favour of laughs which clearly indicated the audience's admiration. A laboured reference to eating a kebab was a perfect contrast with Anth Young, the warm-up act, who spoke warmly and extensively about his wife's kebab. Speaking of Anth Young's introductory ten minute set, he set the tone for what was to come: real life stories told with wit, though not to the same high standard as the main act with his swift delivery and infectious stage presence. With Hutchinson, I felt like I was listening to a slightly inebriated friend rambling on for over an hour, only on this occasion, I wanted to hear more.

Anth Young was Blackpool/Benidorm. Hutchinson on the other hand? I'm not sure. But he was definitely a cut above in both style and performance. Same content and subject matter, yet somehow separate when it comes to levels of excellence.

I got the impression that Hutchinson has been living in the shadow of colleague and contemporary Chris Ramsey. That's a shame. I hope that, one day, he gets the opportunity to step out of the shadows and find success in his own right. I certainly wouldn't turn down the opportunity to watch him again.

Overall Rating: 8.5/10 - Excellent

Comedy Review: Is That Chris Ramsey?

Image Source: Metro Radio Arena

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Stand-Up
Genre: Comedy
Date: March 9 2017
Location: Epstein Theatre, Liverpool, England

Chris Ramsey has brought his outgoing, audience-interactive, endearing and hilariously honest comedy show back to Liverpool with Is That Chris Ramsey?

A Georgie lad who recently became a dad, Chris emphasises that he appreciates comedy and his fans far more than the idea of being famous (he noted how he dislikes being called a celebrity). He's a normal person, a family man, but one who manages to find himself in the most unusual situations, much to the amusement of his audience.

Chris takes a friendly, almost conversational approach, frequently chatting with the audience to get to know them as his show progresses. At the same time, he is a master of facial reactions and reacting with a certain pitch at a certain time which doubles the impact of his punchlines. He's also a great ad-libber, thinking quickly on his feet to react to the aforementioned audience discussions as well as firmly shutting down one particularly disrespectful heckler.

Without spoiling the material for those who have yet to see the show, Ramsey goes into detail on a wide variety of topics close to his heart and engrained in his memory, such as the reason why a random customer service query helped him to understand how to build his self-confidence. There are also tales about a prank gone wrong, a house rule that was dumped in the worst possible fashion and an insight into his friend's sense of humour. He also covers the 2016 incident, which made the papers, where he was wrongly arrested while wearing just his underpants.

All of this and more comprises his show, and it's a nonstop journey of fun. Almost everything got a laugh, and there were many occasions when he had the audience in stitches; one attendee laughed so hard that it became part of the routine. Chris also proved how fan-friendly he is by happily meeting his followers afterwards for photographs and autographs.

I can't complete the review without mentioning Carl Hutchinson. Chris' warm-up act was also hilarious, with his 20 minute set having tons of laugh-out-loud moments relating to his previous job, his girlfriend and his occasional, erm, accidents. Far from a mere warm-up, Carl got the night off to a flying start, and so his own show at the Epstein on May 25 will be well worth watching.

A fantastic evening of comedy entertainment, then, as both Chris Ramsey and Carl Hutchinson delivered a plethora of hilarity that will live long in the memory for those in attendance. If you're thinking of going to see the show yourself, I strongly recommend that you do so!

Overall Rating: 9/10 - Outstanding

Viva Hypnosis by Simon Warner

Image Source: Epstein Theatre

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Hypnosis
Genre: Comedy
Date: July 22 2016
Location: Epstein Theatre, Liverpool, England

There can be a feeling of both excitement and trepidation when attending a hypnotist's show. You never know what to expect, and some unusual situations are almost guaranteed, but what if the hypnotist decides that they want you to be the basis for their performance? It can be a scary prospect to some.

Fortunately, Simon Warner's Viva Hypnosis show takes the most logical and audience-friendly approach possible. Those in attendance are given the chance to volunteer for participation - and there were plenty of takers at the Epstein - but anyone who for whatever reason may prefer to remain a spectator will not be forced to get up on stage. In other words, those who want to get involved are given this opportunity, and those who want to watch proceedings are welcome to do so. It's a win-win!

Now that I have removed any fears that you may have about attending this show in the event that you end up being unwillingly spotlighted, you will be equally pleased to know that the show itself is a blast. It's almost mesmerising to see how a group of perfectly normal people (well, mostly), who are in complete control of their faculties, lose control of their senses to Warner. It happens slowly at first, but it's clear to see that their words, their actions, their behaviour, hell almost their lives, for the duration of this show, are in the hands of the hypnotist. And as the show progresses, it's clear that something as simple as a snap of the fingers or a one-syllable word can halt people in their tracks, or get them to do something that, in a normal environment, they would never have the bottle to do.

It's incredible to see how one person can have such control over a variety of people (and not in a scary cult kind of way). For that reason alone, this show is worth watching, because one can only imagine how a man like Warner could develop the skills to reach the point where he can use words and actions to essentially control the volunteers. But wait, there's more.

Now, in case you are planning to attend one of Simon's shows in future, I am not going to spoil things by revealing what the audience members were required to do, because part of the fun is the surprise factor, and how each stage is funnier than the last. I will say, however, that it is hilarious to watch, and it's fascinating to see how more than a dozen people will all have different reactions to the same situation; some oblige but not to an overpowering degree, whereas others are truly in the zone, so to speak. And it's even better to know that these are not trained performers. If they were, the show would still be enjoyable; but these people clearly haven't got a clue what they're doing, or why they're doing it. With each part that comes to an end, the volunteers do not react as if they're "in on it"; they really are in a trance, almost like their bodies have been transported to another world.

Whilst I said that I wouldn't reveal the finer details of what, erm, activities were chosen for the guests, I will say that anyone planning to attend won't have to fear being humiliated, or ending up doing something that they deeply regret, or as Simon pointed out beforehand, losing any or all of their clothing (which may actually be a source of disappointment to some; hey, if they're gonna lose control of themselves, they may want to go all the way!). In other words, if you are hypnotised by Simon, it's similar to being drunk: you're more relaxed, you're care-free, you'll find yourself behaving in a manner that you never would if you're sober, but you're not going to do anything that will result in injury or real embarrassment or a police warrant. And, of course, once the show ends, everyone is back to normal; whether they remember what has happened or not depends on the individuals themselves. (Fortunately, all shows are recorded with participants able to purchase digital copies if they want to see just how they acted during the show. It'll certainly raise a few laughs over the family dinner at Christmas!)

Whether the show succeeds as an entertainment spectacle can depend on those who participate; if people are only slightly responsive, or they don't over-do it with their reactions, then it could merely be an intriguing sight to see how one man can control so many other men and women. However, Simon's approach, along with the impressive production techniques (and some nice dancers to serve as additional eye-candy), and the creativity that he demonstrates in bringing these strangers together and introducing them to unimaginable situations, means that the show as a whole is almost guaranteed to provide entertainment; if the volunteers are truly game for a laugh, then that is the icing on the cake.

To conclude, I would highly recommend that you attend Simon's show in future. He tours across the country and across Europe too, and as a matter of fact, a holiday destination in, say, Spain would be the perfect place to witness this, because the probable volunteers are already likely to be ready for a good time, resulting in even funnier performances. But whether you see Simon in Liverpool, Edinburgh or Tenerife, you'll have a fantastically entertaining night. Just don't be surprised at the funny looks you might get from friends and family afterwards just for doing what Simon says.

Overall Rating: 8.5/10 - Excellent