They had to really pack 'em in at the Komedia for Bent Double at the Brighton Fringe Festival. The place was absolutely heaving. And a mite too hot. Not too hot to eat some nachos (they really are the best snack to watch comedy with) mind, and with such a high standard of comedy from the night I promise I will stop moaning now. But it was bloody hot.
2005 Funny Women Awards finalist Julie Jephson was our host for the evening. I have seen Julie compere before and the audience love her – not just because of her quite striking resemblance to solo long-distance yachtsperson and national treasure Ellen MacArthur – but because of her warm personality and generosity towards the other acts. Wearing her favourite shirt, which is covered in pictures of pin-up women astride vintage motorcycles and not as previous audience members have thought, pin-up women astride wheelchairs, Julie introduced us to the first act Mary Bourke.
Mary had us all in stitches with her review of a Carla Bruni album: "sounds like a fire in a pet shop", the best 'dick pic' she's ever received and her addiction to Mumsnet forums. Oh Mumsnet Mary is after you. Although apparently Mumsnetters are after Mary and have a wide ranging vocabulary when it comes to insults. Mary currently has a fantastic solo show, 'Muffragette' and she treated us to a little excerpt from it; a lesson in posing for lad mags. Do go and see if it you get the chance.
Next up was International Mr Leather 2003 John Pendal. You might not be aware of bear and leather culture. Never fear, John is here to give us the lowdown on the codes and nicknames so we can all negotiate this world. Short version, no Mr Leather is not sponsored by DFS furniture. John entertained us with his story of how he went from choir boy to Mr Leather.
To end the night was the brilliant Tiffany Stevenson who came onto the stage in a (now tax deductable) leather jacket. Tiffany has that great and rare comedy talent of being able to discuss a tragic, harrowing subject and make it funny. Tiffany discussed our era's legacy (the vajazzle) binge drinking culture, suicide and Stevie Nicks managing to squeeze laughs from all the subjects. As well as being funny, Tiffany does a great Stevie Nicks impression and I can only hope that if you are lucky enough to see her show you too are treated to her spot on rendition of Kate Bush's dance routine to Wuthering Heights.
Brighton Fringe has set the bar high for comedy on its opening weekend. I can't wait to see what else it has in store for us comedy-wise. Check out our guide to Brighton Fringe HERE!
Pictured: Tiffany Stevenson, Mary Bourke
