FIVE STARS!!

Oh yes! My afternoon political panel show The Comedy Manifesto got it's first review of the fringe today from Scotsgay magazine: five stars! Not as surprising as all that - we got five stars last year for the same show from Broadway Baby so we know it's a great show. In case your computer is slow or index finger tired here's what it says:

COMEDY

*****

The Comedy Manifesto

The Beehive

Definitely proves that just because a show is part of PBH’s Free Fringe doesn’t mean it’s rubbish. Nor once you get a good format do you need to change it, for I saw this show last year and went back for more.

The idea is simple, Kate Smurthwaite, a brilliant comedian, hosts two teams each of two comics. Each team is led by the same people each day, Jules Constant and David Mulholland, and there are two guest comics each day. After a witty warm up by Smurthwaite the comics are asked to tell us a bit about themselves. They are then asked a series of questions about things in the news and have to come up with witty and accurate replies. They are then set a challenge, on the day I was there it was to come up with a test of Britishness. The penultimate part of the show is to come up with a new law they would like to see enacted, and finally they are given a chance to sell their main show.

Audience participation is encouraged – the audience can get points as well as the panel – and is helped by the small intimate size of the crowded room.

This really is a superb show.