Review: Funny Way To Be Comedy Gala – Parish Hall, Barnard Castle
Pictured: Mark Watson headlines the Funny Way To Be Comedy Gala.
It’s a funny old place, Barnard Castle.
Out in the sticks where pubs stop serving food at 3pm and everyone knows Dave the landlord, this picturesque town in Teesdale is such an unlikely setting for one of the biggest comedy shows of the year.
But here we are.
Tonight’s comedy gala, put together by Funny Way To Be, was lined up to celebrate the re-opening of the Witham Hall arts centre following a £3m development.
But because of protracted building work the club were forced to move the show to the nearby Parish Hall at the last minute.
It’s exactly how it sounds; a community hall, complete with makeshift bar, that’s just as likely to hold a Tumble Tots as it is a comedy gala.
And it makes our host, new Xtra Factor presenter Matt Richardson, look like he’s in a school nativity.
“I see the Witham Hall have gone for the 70s look,” he quips at the top of the show.
Sharp as a knife, Richardson’s like Russell Kane but with better hair; bundles of charm, daddy issues aplenty and a spring in his step that makes him untouchable on his day.
Tonight’s opening act, sketch group Foil Arms and Hog, have that same tireless energy.
The Irish trio begin with an easygoing Ryanair skit, and then move on to more experimental sketches – which is when they’re at their best.
A sketch about ‘net people’ is the highlight, with top-notch visual gags and a deliciously scripted narrative behind it. Catch them when you can.
Tom Deacon is our next act.
His offbeat style is such a breath of fresh air, with great personality, but disappointingly his set elicits awkward laughs where jokes should be.
The reality is that his material simply isn’t strong enough, and it really shows when he’s on a bill as strong as this.
Into the second section and the enormously likeable Nat Luurtsema gives the gala a welcome shot in the arm.
A routine about moving back home with her parents, taken from Luurtsema’s latest Fringe show, is particularly resonant, with dark twists and turns that keep us on our toes.
Prowling the Parish Hall for jokes and ladies clothing, Eric ‘pants round his ankles’ Lampaert boasts around two minutes of what you’d call proper material, but you’re unlikely to feel short-changed here.
He’s great fun, even if you do see more of his arse than is necessary.
And so to our headliner, Mark Watson, who delivers an accomplished forty minute set to round off the gala; it’s the icing on the cake for a special night that shouldn’t have happened but did.
The Witham Hall may finally be opening in a few weeks’ time, with Hebburn star Chris Ramsey now christening the venue.
But, on tonight’s showing, Barnard Castle’s first-class comedy venue has been right under its nose all along.
Date of live review: Friday 6 September 2013
