Comedy: Record Maker

The thrill of the live recording comes to town with Simon Evans, while the thrill of the just-plain-live continues on

Welcome autumn! I say this because I know it is here, not just as it’s now September, or because both X-Factor and Strictly Come Dancing are back on the weekend television schedules, gently reminding the backs of our heads that they will crescendo into a Christmassy madness… but because the topic of stand-up comedy DVDs has arisen.

This coming Monday sees the recording of Simon Evans’ Greatest Hits DVD at Theatre Royal Brighton, by Universal. The last one of these I went to at this particular venue was for Al Murray, and proved particularly raucous, but then it was a weekend and a late show. This Monday’s happening from the BBC Radio 4 favourite (recently recommissioned for another series of his own take on the world of finance, Simon Evans Goes To Market – just sayin’ “Well done!”) will have a home crowd on side, more inclined to listen and laugh. In other words, less people thinking they’re the funniest person in the room with an oafish drunken grunt.

It was a particularly late and inebriated crowd that elicited that response towards The Pub Landlord. Well done for playing, but don’t try it again, chap from the middle of the stalls.

There is an extra buzz at any live recording, though. The temptation to laugh extra loud, whoop, or whistle enthusiasm for a stand-out punchline is even harder to resist when you know it might be recorded for all time on a small silver disk. It calls to you like writing in wet cement. Just don’t do anything else, as regardless of how clever and witty you think you are, you are never going to be as smart as the best bits of years of material carefully honed and tailored to bring out the biggest laughs. You’re just not.

Fear not though – if you just can’t keep your mind-boggling funnies to yourself, there is a forum for them. This Saturday sees two new act shows – one in the afternoon and one in the evening, showcasing some of the great, the good and the have-a-goes of local comedy and beyond. Go along and support them in this fabulous small velvet room; you can always have a word with the booker to see if you can grab a spot next time. Yes, you, smart mouth.

Simon Evans: Greatest Hits, Monday 15 September, 8pm, £15.90
Comedy Corner, Caroline Of Brunswick, 5pm, £3; Podium Comedy, Caroline Of Brunswick, 8pm, £6