“An extravaganza of laughter held at London queer sanctuary, The Glory”
BY AMELIA ROBSON
Crack-Up Comedy Cabaret is just what we needed to kick off #PrideMonth – and the middle of Gemini season (God help us all).
To sweeten the deal, the night was held in aid of Core Arts, a mental health charity. What’s not to love?
Hosts Charlie George and Jennie Falconer made you want to put them in your pocket and take them away with you. They are as warm and gooey as a treacle tart, but they will make you laugh like a hyena. To mix similes…
Plus, Charlie is a Pride’s Got Talent 2018 finalist and a Leicester Square New Comedian Award 2018 finalist to boot.
The night opened with a sketch examining how we respond to mental illnesses, featuring hilarious homemade props which could have been literally anything.
The line-up started with Lewis Goody’s silly and saucy songs, moving swiftly to Amelia Stubberfield’s dry-humoured accounts of her relationship with healthcare professionals.
Myles Burgess & Dan promised that their sketches would “age well”, and even now I am tickled when I think back to their short situational sketches, and ground-breaking “improv” skills.
Their sharp comic style went down well with Eryn Tett’s fast-moving and absurd set. Eryn left us absolutely beside ourselves with laughter and we would definitely join her mind-blowing/mindless conspiracy cult.
It’s also worth looking out for Len Blanco if you’re a fan of that sweet spot where queer culture makes an aesthetic collision with 90s boyband – Len’s performances are a window into a wonderfully flawed male specimen.
Oh, and Erica Lee Martin’s self-effacing solos were another huge source of entertainment.
The stand-up quality was high from Yumna Mohamed (So You think You’re Funny finalist 2015 & BBC New comedian finalist 2017) and Isa Bonachera (BBC New Comedy Award 2018 finalist, Sketch Off! 2018 runner-Up).
Towards the end, Jonathan Merguez threw some of the most elegant shapes I have ever seen thrown into a room of strangers, and Carrot closed the night off with songs – and a little appearance by Theresa May.
If you enjoyed this one, or if you’re experiencing strong feelings of FOMO, you can catch Jennie and Charlie at their Edinburgh Preview on 17 July 2019, or at Edinburgh Fest itself on 3 August 2019.
Visit facebook.com/crackupcomedycabaret and charliegeorgecomedy.com for more, or follow @CGdoescomedy
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