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The Glee Club
As you approach the Glee, the first thing you notice is the size of the queue. This does not change throughout the evening. You are advised to turn up for 8 o’clock and the Comedians usually come on about 9.30pm
So, I would recommend turning up about 8.30pm and pre booking your food if you are going to eat. You can view the menu at their website : www.glee.co.uk
You may think that this is a little bit too much planning for a night out but you will not regret doing so. I was queuing at the bar for over half an hour to get a drink and order my food. I watched frustratingly as people pushed in and got served before their turn. I wasn't alone in my invisible man crew - there was a posse of 3 blokes who, however hard we tried to get noticed...did not! We were waving money, smiling, trying to get eye contact and then finally out of desperation - used the puppy dog eyes to go for the sympathy vote. The problem lies in the fact that there are not enough bar staff. They are doing the best they can with the sheer amount of people hounding them to be served first.
After eventually getting served and forgetting my table number because I had been standing at the bar for so long, I took my seat and waited for the Comedy to begin. Incidentally - I ordered a Swiss cheese and bacon burger which was fantastic but after a 2hr wait I was contemplating eating the table. That is (again) why I strongly advise you to pre order your food if you want to eat within an hour. (My burger was very nice and the birds tuna melt looked pretty tasty, shame about the wait).
Anyway the entertainment for the evening followed the regular structure of the Glee Club, 1 compere and 3 acts. It was my first time that I had attended on a Friday, one glaring observation I made was that the average age had increased by about 20 years, not that I am moaning but it became a lot more evident when the disco started, it was like a family do. As more alcohol got consumed, the more outrageous the dance moves became.
First up was the compere for the evening, now my perfect woman is a lady that is funny and fit. Kitty Flanagan fulfilled all my criteria.
Kitty Flanagan has been a professional stand-up since 1994, Kitty headlines regularly at all the major comedy clubs in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. She has also performed in Edinburgh and done a comedian’s tour of duty in Singapore. Her delivery was assured and very funny, she avoided the normal style of a compere of trying to ‘whoop’ the audience into a frenzy, she was very subtle and very very funny. Not only was her material very topical, her observational skills on life were precise and she played on the fact that she was a female comedian without the normal stereotypes of eating cakes and period gags. She reacted well to the audience and was very sharp with any comebacks; sometimes her improvisations were funnier than her scripted material. All in all I feel she was the best act of the evening, and that is an unbiased opinion bearing in mind I fancied her and would not object for her to father my children. The next act was an American called Rex Boyd.
Rex Boyd is a Kansas born comedian and a performer that makes you sigh with relief and thank the lord above you are not sitting at the front. Rex’s act is based on the premise that the audience helps to re-create the story of a Western complete with comedy villains, nubile young wenches and a hero Cowboy dressed like he has just come from Mardi Gras. He has been reviewed in the past
“A comedy improv, participation, pantomime, melodrama, dance spectacular, beyond description and belief." The Independent.
My personal opinion was that he was crap, harsh but fair. I am not taking away from the performances of the audience who I thought were amazing given the circumstances, but it was no genius. Rex acted as the puppeteer; his performance was very physical and energetic. It was very labored, as a comedy performance it just became tedious, the story was predictable and quite frankly I did not care. As the act went on the audience started to groan. I did laugh but it was not a dance spectacular and nothing I could not have done myself, with a few props and a 12 pack of lager. If ever there was a comic’s eye you don't want to catch its Rex. He will make you look and feel like a spare dick at a wedding. The next act was Roy Diamond.
Roy diamond aka Marcus Powell. Marcus’s comic creation is rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the best character acts on the circuit. Host of BBC 2's A-Force and having recently supported Mark Lamarr on an extensive UK tour. Roy was the self proclaimed Godfather of Comedy. He was funny and a different style to Rex. He took on the persona of an old Jamaican man, with great realism. He stood in front of the microphone holding an unlit cigar, retelling stories of his life including his sexual prowess and trying to pull the ladies in the audience. He set his stall out from the beginning; if you were going to heckle him he would stab you later on. Everyone was quiet. A believable and funny performance. The last act was Noel James. Noel James is 34 years old from Pontardawe, Swansea Valley, Wales. The last twelve years have been dedicated to comedy performance on the London, British, and Irish comedy circuit. He was very surreal and hilarious. His comedy was base and very stupid. His humour was very Welsh, but in Wales it was a safe bet. He sang songs and told one-liners, which were highly original and just plain ridiculous. If you like juvenile humour and silly jokes, he is your man. A very funny comic indeed who had the audience in stitches.
So in closing, again the Glee was a very funny night, which is a refreshing escape from normal town antics of bars and clubs. Highly recommended, for £10.50 on a Friday and £12.50 on a Saturday. Just don’t sit down the front and be prepared to queue. It is an event in itself…….
Posted by thawk 11th April 2003