A strange thing happened to Team Funny Women this weekend. Now, we’re a fairly enlightened bunch of 21st Century gal-pals, fluttering little more than an objective eyelid when faced with the weird and wonderful. (It’s amazing how quickly Travel- Lodge-living teaches you the benefits of emotional detachment. And air freshener.) Indeed, this year’s Awards tour has already seen us staying in a Yorkshire guesthouse frequented by the cast of “Last of the Summer Wine” – oh, the glamour – helping Mrs. Barbara nice hurtle down a staircase atop a silver platter, and taking tea with Alistair Campbell and Anne Robinson at the Hay Festival. (*Disclaimer: “with” in this context means “we were in the same room at the same time so did a lot of muffled gasps and probably quite obvious staring”. *)
But we couldn’t have prepared ourselves for the surprise our latest funny-finding foray to the North West had in store. You see, we went to Huddersfield – and it was sunny. Blazingly, brazenly sunny. ALL WEEKEND. So much so that Cara got tan lines – ok, she got burnt – and 11am ice-creams were a medical necessity. (* for “medical necessity” read “fine, we’re just greedy”. *).
Maybe it was the weather, maybe it was the chintzy delights of our apparently Mallory Towers-inspired hotel room, maybe it was the “Babes Drink Free” sticker presented to Lynne in the pub – whatever it was, Huddersfield outdid herself and proved to be one of our best shows yet.
No solemnity inside
A wealth of outstanding local talent took to the Laurence Batley Theatre’s Cellar stage and had their audience frequently in stitches, so congratulations and well done to all who took part. Our hosts for the evening were the fabulous Domestic Goddi, who went on to perform an exclusive preview of their new show to raputous roars from the crowd – which included one Goddi’s dad, beaming with well-deserved pride throughout.
All in all, a very fine excursion. Very fine indeed.
