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This Edinburgh preview was like a friend suddenly turning up with your favourite pick ‘n’ mix before you’d even discovered pick ‘n’ mix. Pure unadulterated sweet indulgence. The jokes were bang on and her persona as likeable as ever with a mixture of ‘cup of tea and a Jammy Dodger’ and carefully timed crudities.
The show was about reclaiming a phrase that’s now become an insult – ‘typical woman,’ and ‘man,’ and what these really are. In the battle of the sexes you’d do well to pay mind to Sarah Millican and throw any idea of a winner out the window. This was good intelligent belly-aching fun..
Upstairs At Three And Ten, 11 July
5/5
Victoria Nangle

Six comics deliver fast lines and sketches in five-ten minutes. Too much? No sireee. This fast-paced formula worked wickedly well with different personalities and humours guaranteeing chuckles galore.
The gig kicked off with Norwegian comic Marie Vagen who chirpily compered, presenting smiling, ’happy’ Felicity, a laddish Andy Bryant and morose Rich Heap. The second half saw Paul ’good’ Beckett, sexy ‘convent girl’ Kerry Herbert and a charming Rich Perry. Lead act, Gerry Howell, dubbed the next Eddie Izzard, took to the stage with a sketch on Napoleon Bonaparte. A little too much frantic walking around the stage but hey, the man’s compared to Izzard, not Chaplin. Top, top night: recommended.
Latest Music Bar, 10 June
4/5
Monica Perdoni

WIth a talent like that of Victoria Wood this should have been a veritable feast of humour. Her observational skills are so acute, her comic timing masterly and her sense of place and of spirit so refined. But last night was no feast. On a wobbly set a group of actors, cast seemingly because they bore some resemblance to the members of the original TV cast that have wisely opted not to join in this ill conceived charade, what we received was less appetising than warmed-up left-overs. The two original cast members were late and curtain up was delayed but even they could do nothing to save the day. Sadly I broke my rule of sitting things out and, out of respect for myself and my love of Ms Wood’s talent, I left at the half. As a consequence I am unable to give a star rating but I will leave you to guess what I might have awarded had I suffered to the end.
Theatre Royal, 6 July
Andrew Kay

Julian is now 50. He makes sure we know this in the first half of this preview show, as he’s younger than his neighbour Paul O’Grady – ’he’s on TV every day you know,’ under breath muttering – but made it longer than the King of Pop.
Obvious set-ups, signposted innuendo, high camp – it’s all here but it’s what Mr Clary is known for and he doesn’t disappoint. Like a late night ITV1 special, he’s friendly with a touch of the risqué.
The second half saw him trying out a spot of mind-reading which didn’t blend as well as the first, but it’s a preview and a friendly crowd so he’s forgiven with smiles.
Pavilion Theatre, 9 July
4/5
Victoria Nangle