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The Chapsom Bear experience was a wonderful furry thing, hilarious and disturbing in equal measure as all great comedy should be. Supported by pianest David Brix, cake-mauler Nicholas Cooke and a nice little bottle of red, the compere Chapsom Bear took us through a completely original evening of new stand-up. Other than the bear, highlights on the bill were bingo hall favourite Sean McLoughlin and the utterly hilarious Kieron Nicholson who has the intelligence, turn of phrase and timbre of Jerry Sadowitz without the rank misdemeanor. Back again in February 2012, this has the hallmarks of a classic “saw it here first” comedy.

Marlborough Theatre, 24 November 2011
Rating:
Kerry Herbert

Wehn’s comedy study of his own German-ness is a brilliantly uncomfortable journey of discovery. His patter, there are few actual gags, his clunky use of English and his gentle demeanour may be the focus of the evening but all the time we are looking at him he is really making us look at ourselves and at ourselves as a nation. Few could pull off holocaust gags or use racial stereotypes as he does and get away with it but somehow he manages it, and to counter the alienation he feels as a German in Britain he alienates us by making the audience sing carols in German. Not a comfortable experience but one that made me laugh whilst feeling desperately uncomfortable. Almost brilliant but perhaps too much for some of the audience which left the atmosphere, in an otherwise delightful venue, a little flat from time to time.

The Caroline of Brunswick, 23 November 2011
Rating:
Andrew Kay

Whilst the talent of the former Rolling Stone’s rhythm and blues supergroup is clearly undeniable, tonight’s show was disappointingly underwhelming. There’s something strangely tragic about watching musical pioneers who have survived the hedonistic world of rock and roll running through a well-rehearsed set, complete with the occasional old man dance move. Their performance is almost too clinical, lacking the wicked, fiery spark that rhythm and blues originally had at its core. A guest appearance by Mary Wilson added some welcome variety, but it only momentarily lifted the show out of a wave of blandness that overshadowed the band’s obvious skills.

Concert Hall, Brighton Dome, 23 November 2011
Rating:
Adam Lindsay

Set in a Scottish women’s prison, Iron told the dark tale of husband-killer Faye, contacted by daughter Josie after fifteen years with no visitors. Sandie Armstrong as Faye and Erica Thornton as Josie struck an utterly believable balance between the awkwardness of not knowing someone anymore and the euphoria of changing that, perfectly highlighted by Jerry Lyne’s stark, claustrophobic direction with occasional transcendent flourishes. Despite slightly clumsy moralising near the end and the odd clunking ‘och’ (do Scottish people really say ‘och’ so often?), Rona Monroe’s tense study of love, loss and regret remained totally affecting, thought-provoking theatre.

New Venture Theatre, 22 November 2011
Rating:
Nick Aldwinckle