Review: Alfie Joey, Cal Halbert, Justin Moorhouse & John Smith – The Barnes, Sunderland

Justin Moorhouse

The Grinning Idiot Comedy Club offer a bridge between the North East’s thriving comedy circuit and the big hitters of mainstream stand-up. In recent months they have played host to names like Reginald D. Hunter and Michael McIntyre, and last Friday saw Phoenix Nights star Justin Moorhouse – a.k.a Young Kenny – entertain a near sell-out crowd at The Barnes in Sunderland. Joining him on the bill was host John Smith, Cal Halbert and Alfie Joey.

John Smith, the man behind The Grinning Idiot’s recent successes, brewed an intimate atmosphere in the upstairs function room. Smith is a capable MC, and his mischievous – often crude – stories warmed the weekend audience up nicely in preparation for opening act Justin Moorhouse.

Moorhouse’s time on stage consisted of around twenty five minutes of decent prepared material, punctuated by some impressive bantering with the crowd. His often cruel take on the world – framed by familial observations – initially received a mixed response, though the audience warmed to him as his set progressed. Moorhouse is impossible to dislike – a gifted comic who speaks with intelligence, he is an effortlessly entertaining performer.

17 year old impressionist Cal Halbert lacked consistency and structure, offering a mixed bag of impersonations, some pitch perfect and others less so. The former Britain’s Got Talent contestant had some promising moments, though – his Michael McIntyre and Fabio Capello imitations were superb – and his act should improve with further experience.

Headliner Alfie Joey was in some ways a playful extension of Halbert. Charming, cheerful and optimistic, he is a real variety act. The laughs weren’t as forthcoming as Moorhouse’s time on stage, but Joey’s exploration of an inherently Northern way of life, from local references to more broader social commentary, was a hit with the audience and ensured the laughs persisted from start to finish.