Review: Mr Drayton’s Dinner Date – Newcastle Stand
A new lunchtime show at the Newcastle Stand got off to a good start with a decent-sized crowd enjoying food and chat.
Dinner Date’s USP is that the audience can choose to eat a three course meal during the stand-up show, a chance to sample The Stand’s acclaimed menu alongside those on stage.
Host Steve Drayton, known for his Record Player evenings, was joined by comedians Damian Clark and Chris Stokes as they chatted about their ideal dinner guest – living, dead, and fictional.
Playing a low status Magnus Magnusson, Drayton asks the comics questions on each of their choices.
So, the show doesn’t just offer food and entertainment, it also offers some potentially jackpot-winning pub quiz revision! Write out 100 times: “Santa Claus’s costume is *not* red and white because of Coca Cola.”
The cabaret seating has been replaced by dining tables, occupied by those who have chosen to eat a three-course meal (for a bargain-tastic fifteen squid) with audience members who have chosen not to eat sitting along the back row.
The courses are brought out to the audience at the same time as those on stage, giving the effect of sharing a dinner with three funny companions.
There is also some nice audience interactivity when the audience vote on their favourite of the two hypothetical guests in each round by – in good old Ready, Steady, Cook style – holding up pieces of card. Those not eating might feel a little isolated at these points, as only those sitting on the large tables have been given the cards.
But, everyone has a go during the interval at nominating their own ideal guests on a piece of paper. The most popular response, determined by the loudest cheer, won for its proposer… well, can you guess?
With slightly more effort not to alienate those who are not eating (and perhaps scheduling the show so that it doesn’t clash with a Newcastle home match), Dinner Date could develop into another tasty treat on the Stand’s comedy menu.
Date of live review: Saturday 31 August 2013
