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Review of Laughter in Odd Places gig

Laughter in Odd Places
Bruce Dessau's rating 5 stars


Laugh? I fell off my sofa
By Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard 19.11.07
More reviews by Bruce Dessau
Bruce Dessau
Exuberant: Edinburgh Festival hits Pappy Fun Club on stage in Bruce Dessau's living room

Exuberant: Edinburgh Festival hits Pappy Fun Club on stage in Bruce Dessau's living room
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He has appeared in front of Elton John and Victoria Beckham and now Richard Herring is starring in my lounge. This must be the strangest comedy gig I have ever reviewed. And one of the most enjoyable, too.

The event came about after promoter Tom Searle, who has previously mounted decidedly eccentric events in the Museum of London and on Hampstead Heath, read my article criticising bland venues and bemoaning the lack of decent parking spaces and suggested setting up a free performance in my house.

Searle devised a suitably eclectic line-up and, in the style of an old Cliff Richard movie, put the show on right here. Add 30 lucky friends and website ticket winners plus cakes, biscuits and piping hot tea and you had the makings of a unique happening.

Compere Terry Saunders soon warmed everyone up by confessing that he had recently been locked in his own toilet before agreeing that was indeed a comedy tale of the unexpected: "Steamed up windows? Lots of couples arriving? The neighbours are going to think it's wife-swapping."

Perrier Award Best Newcomer nominee Joanna Neary sustained the momentum with a selection of nervy, naughty characters that were so funny and inventive that I soon stopped being anxious about the audience spilling their drinks on my carpet.

After interval doughnuts and a queue for the lavatory that made this resemble a party as much as a gig, Edinburgh Festival hits Pappy's Fun Club bounded onstage with their exuberant sketches and witty songs. Maybe next door should have been warned. It is not every day you have a man standing by your front window in a toga claiming to be Julius Caesar and pretending to be part of a close harmony folk band.

Herring closed proceedings by complaining about the state of my curtains before despairing at his middle-aged love life. Near-the-knuckle stuff, though my 15-year-old daughter in the front row relished every innuendo as Herring recalled how cracking gags in front of Elton John was like performing "in the court of a medieval king ... or queen" before concluding that this was much more enjoyable.

There was a single dilemma. How many stars does one give when one is the host? Surely it has to be five stars. A great gig, a splendid venue and, most importantly, the best parking space I've ever had.

• Information: www.laughterinoddplaces.com.