The Wentworth Comedy Festival is fast acquiring a reputation as the best offering of the year from the much celebrated ComedySoc, and this year’s performance was no exception.
The Edge Bar in Wentworth was packed on Friday night, as students sat down to enjoy the annual showcase of the ComedySoc’s stand-up comedians and improv troupe, The Shambles. As a long time fan of the ComedySoc performances, I had high expectations for the evening, but was totally blown away by this year’s offerings.
The first half of the show was dedicated to the society’s stand-up performers. ComedySoc prides itself on a strong tradition of stand-up, and this year’s batch was no exception to that, with a mix of well-known talent alongside lesser known newcomers to the scene. The quality and variety of the stand-up was astounding, with the witty observations of Jack Lawrence and Blaine Kenneally, the deadpan, but always standout songs from Tom Taylor, the self depreciating wit of Sam Lacks (the self titled ‘Bulimic Frankenstein’) as well as the always hilarious stalwart of the Universities stand up scene, Manraj Bahra.
The continuous high quality of all the stand-ups exceeded expectations, but special mention should be given to a few of the evenings performers. Lewis Dunn provided some of the best lines of the night with his observations of the difference between philosophers and scientists, as well as a miniature dramatic performance of a tale of romance and jealous lovers, that seemed to merge Hollyoaks with Romeo and Juliet, and had the audience in tears of laughter from the off. Rory McGregor’s sharp, fast paced, energetic performance was particularly memorable. His set, based on workshopping various genres of jokes with the audience as he went along, was refreshingly different and terrifically well received. Whilst David Maguire may have done little to detract from the stereotype that Irish comedians always talk about Catholic Priests, the IRA, and the potato famine, his sharp observations got some of the loudest laughs from the audience, and gave what was without a doubt one of the night’s standout performances.
Although an hour long, the first half flew by, the credit for which lies not only with the performers, but with the inimitable compere George Hughes who did a fantastic job, keeping the audience entertained and enthralled with his own observations, and ensuring the smooth running of the show. His infectious energy and skill as a performer was one of the highlights of the evening.
After a brief intermission to top up on Gin and Pizza, the second half began. The Shambles, self titled as, and self evidently ‘York’s premier improve troupe’ bounced onto the stage. The Shambles line-up is not fixed, and changes each year as it incorporates new talent. This evening’s performers included George, Blaine, Lewis and Rory from the earlier stand-up, alongside Ed Greenwood, Louise Jones and Steph Bartlett, accompanied by Charles Deane, who presented the games, and led the audience interaction. If you have never seen them, the format of the Shambles performance follows a similar pattern to improvisational shows like Whose Line Is It Anyway? as well as aspects of Mock The Week, where a scenario or game is introduced, the premise of which relies on audience suggestions, always a risky move when your audience comprises of 100 or so university students who are drinking heavily. Such was the sharpness of the performers though, they were able work off even the most surreal suggestions the audience could think of (particularly memorable was a song consisting 4 verses, each one dedicated in turn to Zeus, Taylor Swift, Fish Farming and Zombification, as well as a Jurassic Park themed restaurant, staffed with Head Chef Gandalf, and a special’s menu consisting of unicorn). Improvisational comedy is so often overlooked as a genre, partly perhaps because it can be so disastrous when it goes wrong. The Shambles’ performance however showcased the skill, quick thinking, and teamwork that are required to make the format work, and to create a truly amazing, bewildering and hilarious show.
The Wentworth Comedy Festival was a truly brilliant evening, and exemplary of the high standard of performance that the Comedy Soc attains, going far above and beyond the traditional conceptions of student comedy. In fact, one thing you really get a sense of as you walk away is that some of the performers you have seen are destined for great things, that some of the comedians that Comedy Soc has nurtured are capable of taking their talents beyond a hobby, and achieving much wider recognition in the future. The talent and ability to do so is certainly there. So perhaps you should consider a visit to one of the Comedy Soc shows, not only as an entertaining, and hysterical evening, but also as a financial investment. Get down to V/045 on a Wednesday night, and see the Stand-ups and Shambles perform for £3, because before you know it, you’ll have to fork out £25 to go see them perform at the Barbican.
ComedySoc will resume next term every Wednesday in v/045. If you want to have a go at improv yourself, then go along to the open auditions for The Shambles (who will be recruiting for Edinburgh) this Sunday between 2-6pm in D/l/006.