Rhod Gilbert Ian Stone
22 July 2007
In a change to the billing, a rare treat this evening - two established comics performing extended Edinburgh Festival preview sets (50 minutes each). Geoff Whiting kicked us off, as per.
Welshman Rhod Gilbert performed a set called "Who's Eaten Gilbert Grape", which, despite the fact that hardly anyone had seen the film that inspired it, nevertheless looks set to be an emotionally engaging success. Gilbert claims "I don't really do comedy but there aren't many misery clubs in Bath", which sets up a great framework for some quite edgy material about family breakdown (even involving audience participation, which I thought was quite brave). Gilbert is thoughtful enough to develop deep ideas and to avoid the obvious gags. He also tells fantastic stories, weaving in the Gilbert Grape theme with allusions to his cleaning habits, experiences of hotel rooms, and his private parts.
Ian Stone was a very different kettle of fish. I really liked the way he started - discussing a recent family crisis at a restaurant before launching quite seamlessly into material about the perpetual Middle East crisis (he is Jewish). The show, "Healthy Disrespect" raises related issues throughout, drawing in terrorism, gays, nuclear weapons, and Flash Gordon. He arguably overstepped the line a few times, notably with a cracking discussion on Catholicism and child abuse, which I think he should probably stick with. With such a political theme, I am always hoping I will find myself fundamentally challenged but this is always a big ask of a comic. Rather, Stone deals competently and amusingly with the topics and gets some big laughs along the way.
Overall, this was a top night for punters - £7 for two very good acts.
Heckles
Geoff: What's your name?
Man: Hawthorne.
Geoff: Hawthorne? Now that's a weird name. Can anyone beat that?
Man 2: Ed!
Geoff: Hmmm no...
Later...
Geoff: What's your name?
Man 3: Nimrod.
Geoff: Nimrod? And you didn't think to chirp up when I asked if anyone could beat the name Hawthorne? Even Ed was willing to have a go! And you're called Nimrod!
Matthew Alford
Matthew Alford