Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival Preview Show
De Montfort Hall, Leicester
Review by Gemma Collins
As audiences go, I'm not too sure host Alan Davies was impressed with us – to start with.
I think, when someone of his helix-haired stature elicits a response, he expects to receive one. And the lack of retort was, quite frankly, uncomfortable.
Not that the silence lasted long.
With his relative tales of fatherhood and a natural giddiness, he soon thawed the De Montfort Hall, leading us through a torrent of 'tasters' from the forthcoming comedy festival.
First up was Andrew Ryan who took his order in the running like a man. He was genuinely funny - he deserved more laughs - and was spot on with his story about phone security and the bank.
Having earned her place on stage, Kate Lucas – the reigning Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year – amused us with songs about not liking her baby, an arguing couple and the despicable act of leaving crumbs in the butter. Don't mess with Kate. She's spunky; deliciously distasteful, and already has her comic timing down to a tee.
But thank goodness for Jarred Christmas. He socked it to us, leaving little room for resistance.
If we were hoping for cleverly crafted tales about months of the year and Monopoly; bang – we got it. The applause was rapturous.
Riding high on the rousing atmosphere of the first half and our anticipation of the second, Canadian Bobby Mair didn't disappoint. He kept doing that stand back and smile at his own jokes thing, and was amusingly awkward – like he needed the toilet. And his legacy was possibly the best line of the night. "Stop touching me (kids), you're violating my parole."
Tim Renkow makes people uncomfortable. He knows. He does it on purpose. Tim has severe cerebral palsy and a wickedly dark sense of humour. Perhaps the most interesting act of the night, I want to see more of Tim.
Another 'not to be missed' this festival is US export, Alex Edelman. He was named Foster's Best Newcomer in Edinburgh and owned the stage in Leicester tonight. Perhaps it's the confidence of youth. But it seems more likely he's a natural.
Bringing the evening to a close was the brilliant Sara Pascoe. She can't bear it when people pronounce her name wrong. "It sounds like it's gone off. Like it's curdled," she quipped.
Sara was boundless with her banter - a wry, whimsical stream of observation and original thought.
It was just a shame it had to end. But it did. How else could we be teased into funny February?
