Comedy / geoff norcott
Review: Katherine Ryan, Colston Hall
Stand-up comedy is a funny thing these days – in so far as, all too frequently, it’s not.
Funny, that is. Gone are the days where you went to see the cranky one, or the self-deprecating one, or the one who observes. Now, with the market full to bursting, you’ve struck gold if you can just go out and say you saw ‘the funny one’. However, Colston Hall struck double gold on Saturday night with both support and headline bringing the house down in the classiest way possible.
Geoff Norcott opened the show, treading that fine line all supports must tread: knowing that they are not the reason 1,500 people are there, while warming said 1,500 up and making their own mark.
It was a nervy start, going for the age-old, obvious and disappointing front-row targets. This evolved quickly however into some sharp satire and social commentary, from Auschwitz on Tripadvisor through to alibis for major events like 9/11 and Princess Diana’s death. It was drawing on his experiences as a teacher, however, that put Norcott most at ease with his audience and provided us with his richest material. A winning support, and likely contender for the title of ‘one to look out for as a headliner’.
As far as headliners go, you will not find anyone better on the circuit than Katherine Ryan. She introduces herself as ‘Television’s Katherine Ryan’ and most people will associate her with numerous panel shows and comedy specials. She’s the one that sits back whilst the numerous cock-fighting, testosterone-fuelled comedians wear themselves out, then steps up with a snappy line and walks away with the crown.
Latest show KathBum is a trailblazing tour of popular culture and her own family history. From easy targets such as a blistering attack on Cheryl Cole and Donald Trump through to more delicate areas such as Bill Cosby and tsunamis, Ryan never shies away from the big picture. Throw into the mix the show arc of her sister’s wedding and a Filipino viral misrepresentation, and you’ve got yourself a night out with someone you are convinced you want to be best friends with.
A perfect mix of self-deprecating Canadian and brassy Irish, Ryan is that rare breed of comedian who values every idea, dispenses of the flannel and whose every word counts. Simply put: brilliant.
Katherine Ryan played Colston Hall on Saturday, Feb 6. For more Colston Hall comedy lineups, visit www.colstonhall.org/whatson/comedy
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