Review Highlight Comedy Club

Lizzie Pillinger reports from the Leeds branch of Highlight on 4th June

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Drew Barr

Mr Barr describes himself as a mixture of Bond villains. Notwithstanding a crude Blowfeld/Oddjob contraction ensuing, this is the sinister impression created by his three piece suit, brogues and ‘Allo ‘Allo style twirled moustache. He is skilful at his role of warming up the crowd – comprising three or four tables of middle-aged groups, two hen do’s and a couple of couples – gaining momentum for the acts he introduces, and avoiding the awkwardness that sometimes afflicts the in-between moments. However, he is an excellent comic in his own right, with a strong physical presence and an ability to conjure up characters which everyone can identify in their own lives. His vulgarity and slightly intimidating heckles are tempered by his charm and he goes down a storm (particularly with the hens).

Pete Firman

As a magician, albeit not the most accomplished one, Pete has an unusual and vibrant style to his comedy. His speech is a seemingly nervous, fast-paced babble; half his humour is in never pausing for breath. His cynicism, self-deprecation and flippancy are well received from the moment he walks on stage. He steamrollers the senses with his “part geography teacher, part sexpest” outfit, colourful props and his larger than life movements around the stage. There is no time to stop and think about whether you find him funny or not. His surrealism transports you along, laughing, because you cannot keep up with him at all.

Benjamin Crellin

For me, this man stole the show. After the sheer drivelling madness of Mr Firman, the simplicity of Benjamin’s act is a relief. He is entirely calm. He doesn’t run about the stage, but stays put, central and stable. His voice does not have the dynamic peaks and troughs of his predecessor. There’s not much of the sore thumb about him. Follically challenged, a little rotund at the middle, and in jeans and a black shirt, the only thing that could set him apart from the over-attentive bar staff is his New Zealand accent. He lets his comedy speak for itself. He is intelligent, irreverent, draws on the classics – religion, paedophilia, terrorism – and delivers them faultlessly. He is thoughtful yet crosses lines, demands admiration yet makes you slightly uncomfortable. He is living proof that comedy is not so much what you say as how you say it, and that excellent, sharp comedy does not require ostentatious ridiculousness. You need, simply, to be funny.

Geoff Norcott

Geoff is surprising, being younger than a Geoff should be, camper than a married man should be and having more presence than his limited stature would suggest. Although sharp, observational comedy, his material is less surprising. A carefully crafted reaction to an audience of truckers and brides-to-be results in slightly bland battle-of-the-sexes pieces and talk of holiday camps and council estates. He moves seamlessly through a string of unrelated topics very quickly, a stream of comedy consciousness, rather than a series of one-liners. He is assertive and controls the audience well, interacting with the hen do while avoiding the potential for chaos to descend – almost aggressive, but never harsh. Mr Norcott deserves his headline spot, but his impression of Michael McIntyre’s ability to deliver the mundane in a side-splitting manner and confession that he will never be able to do the same, sadly, rang a little too true.

Posted on Tuesday 15th June 2010

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