Way back in January I was asked if I might like to be a mentor for the Funny Women Challenge the Men event. I was honoured to be asked and more than a little excited at the prospect of a promised badge saying 'Comedy Mentor'. A badge that never materialised I might add…
But I forgot about the badge very quickly, because what did materialise were three very different gentlemen who were all, in their own way, absolutely charming. They were also quietly cacking their posh pants over the idea of doing stand up.
I mentored three of the Challengers (Geoffrey Marx, Andy Lopata and David McQueen) and, while I think they would all agree that there were moments when we all thought nothing was ever going to be funny ever again, all three turned out to be absolutely hilarious. I'm not convinced that this was particularly related to my mentorship at all – but don't tell them that!
The thing with stand up comedy is – at least as far as I'm concerned – nobody hates laughing. And everybody can make somebody laugh. Stand up is really just about learning to do whatever it is you do in the pub. When your mates are crying with laughter over that story about when you wet yourself in public – it's doing that behind a mic with loads of strangers. Easy!
And my boys made it look just that! They worked hard. They cared about doing a good job. They listened to advice and acted upon it, while still having the integrity to stand by some ideas that they were dead set on. And consequently they aced it.
The day itself was a joy. It was so lovely to see the Challengers getting hold of the microphone and going for it. And just as nice to see all the mentors puffing out their feathers with pride like happy chickens as their chicks garnered laugh after laugh from the packed out audience.
So while there are an awful lot of words flying about these days concerning men and women in comedy and who has it easier, who does it better and who, ultimately, gives a monkeys? I think this fabulous Charity Challenge has shown us that boy or girl, hard work, integrity and perseverance get you an awfully long way!
Lucy Frederick was a finalist in the 2012 Funny Women Awards and is a founder member of the Funny Women Players
Read about co-host Rowan Pelling's reflections on the night HERE.
Pictured top to bottom: Lucy Frederick and Geoffrey Marx; Andy Lopata in action.
