A late night stand up show in the BBC Tent, which will be edited for radio output at some point in the future. MacAulay is an established name on Radio 4, weel kent in Scotland, and a naturally affable host for a show of this nature. His opening set and linking between acts was always competent, although I've seen him on better form in the past.
There were nine acts all told, with a good mix of styles and nationalities. It opened with Jeff Green, once a regular on British TV screens, whose style doesn't seem to have evolved and felt a bit too rooted in the seventies. Dane Baptiste brought a more modern approach, a dry wit and good stuff looking at charities. Then we had Glasgow boy Larry Dean, who proved to be one of the highlights of the night. Very funny about being gay, how Scots act in London and a decent couple of minutes on the idiocies of ukip.
Next up was American transgender comedian, previously well known as Will Franken, now appearing as Sarah F. Simply brilliant impressions and character comedy, Franken dazzles with the speed of her transitions from one voice to another and the dialogues she creates. She was followed by local absurdist Eleanor Morton who specialises in social awkwardness. I enjoyed her set, but it felt like a lot of the audience didn't really 'get' her.
If Morton split the room the same could be said for Canadian Glen Wool. Loud, energetic, at times creepy, he is edgy and imaginative. His evidence that emails to family members should be carefully proof read was beautifully constructed and laugh out loud funny. I loved him. Then, from Northern Ireland, Elaine Malcolmson who, in contrast to the in-your-face Wool is something of a slow burner. Soft of voice with a dead pan delivery, she had some wonderful examples of the absurdity to be found in the mundane.
Rounding out the night were two more familiar names. Hal Cruttenden is a comedian who's never appealed to me on TV, but live it was impossible not to be impressed by his comic timing. Very funny on the subject of hypocrisy. Finally, Mick Ferry, an accomplished club comic who can deliver the belly laughs and draw in his audience.
The live show lasted well over 100 minutes. How much of that, and who, makes it on to the broadcast will be interesting to listen out for. There were certainly a few moments that won't be considered broadcastable (something tells me Glen Wool won't be making the cut!).
A good way to see a variety of comedians you might not otherwise have the time to see, and discover some you want to see more of in future.
This was a one-off event in the BBC Big Blue Tent.
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