Rob and Scatz/ Paul Redwood/ Mitch Benn
25 September 2005
A packed arena for a fantastic night of comedy at Comedy Cavern! Compere Paul Redwood ran the night in his own idiosyncratic way, showing us tonnes of great props and producing a novel idea for a competition (see below).
Musical double act Rob and Scatz bantered some decent bollocks in between bashing out some quality tunes. They look funny – Rob is bald, tall and lanky, and Scatz… well, the opposite – and they used this well in an energetic physical and vocal performance. Most of their material was, they admitted, “nob songs” on subjects like Viagra, necrophilia, and the perils of excessive booze and drugs. Their set pieces were all well-rehearsed, musically competent, and nicely sung (speciously angelic at points!). What really stood out though was their inventive use of disgraceful imagery, which set the tone for a very rude evening.
Open spot Tom Craine successfully handled his fast, naturally stimulating style with some equally fast and smart thinking. He had some great ideas on topics such as prostitutes, paedophilia, and how Jesus got heckled (“ ‘This is the word of God’ – well, if you are going to steal other people’s material you deserve all you get!”). Craine had a very promising, rather camp comic persona and should do really well once he’s bagged some more gigs.
Headliner Mitch Benn rocked the place out with some furious guitar, expressive shouting, and the biggest pair of leather trousers in the world (“So many innocent cows!”). Utilizing an inventive range of voices, Benn imparted his passionate views on things like Live 8 (“Can you actually eat Awareness?”), boybands, and his Viking ancestry. Benn is well known for performing on BBC Radio Four (hardly the vanguard of the revolution), including his own, so it was great to see him back live and as loud as ever – relentlessly castigating modern pop whilst, of course, plugging his album. The audience loved him so much he returned for an encore.
Competition
At which profession is it worst to masturbate?
Answers: (These really look ridiculous when written down. Personally I think I should have won with “Footballer – unless they’re required to dribble” but the following actually got prizes:-
- A ‘Simon Says’ act at a children’s party
- The Headmaster of Dunblane School
- The Milky Bar Kid
Even more absurd was the answer “Sperm Donor”. And, please, neither “Rapist” nor “Paedophile” is a proper paid profession – although I suppose you could steal the pocket money.
Heckles
Redwood: Seven out of ten men have masturbated at work.
Heckler: Have you?
Redwood: Well, I want to give you something to take away with you, tonight.
Redwood: Do footballers get paid too much money?
Heckler: No.
Redwood: Why?
Heckler: Because they get a lot of abuse.
Redwood: Not as much as you in that t-shirt.
Craine: (To audience) How are you?
Hecklers: (drunkenly cheering) Rayyyyy!
Craine: That’s not a response!
(To himself) “How are you, Tom”,
“Rayyyyyyy!!”
“That’s why we haven’t stayed in touch!”
Craine: I went to Cadillacs (nightclub in Bath)…
Audience: (a bit disgusted) Wooooaahhh!
Craine: Come on, I didn’t rape your family! Not yet!!
Benn: Are you from America?
Heckler: L.A
Benn: Oh that’s OK, you didn’t vote for him.
I’m pursuing fame and fortune next week so won’t be reviewing Comedy Cavern. But I will return on the 9th!
Matthew Alford