Jo Brand: Work In Progress
In 2008, I was a finalist in the Chortle Student Comedy Award competition. The day after the final, I eagerly awaited Chortle's review. The first eight words of that review were "Richard Stainbank could be the male Jo Brand". I remember wandering around Auld Reekie for 24 hours seething at the comparison. I wore a black t-shirt most of the time so could understand it in a physical sense, although one's clothing options are limited at 22 stone. But I didn't think it was justified otherwise and I considered Jo Brand to be something of an irrelevance as a comedian at that point. I didn't feel it was a quote that would lead promoters to beat a path to my door. But I will concede that I was something of a pompous little shit at the time.
For a while, it became a running joke among my family and friends. Brandgate then largely lay dormant until 2013, when Paul Fleckney of London Is Funny revived it in his review of the Comedy Knights Fresh Comedian Of The Year. Clearly the stripey blue shirt I had worn for the occasion was for naught.
It was with an open mind that I picked up a last minute return for Brand's current work-in-progress tour, hoping that I would look upon her in a new light. Much of the schtick was familiar, not least the jokes about her husband. Not since Les Dawson's mother in law has a family member got quite such a kicking on stage. Much of this stuff was hit and miss, with a few hoary old puns thrown into the mix. A gag on the subject of Parmesan was cheesy in both senses of the word.
The 55 minute set was not without its pleasures. Brand referred to Jenny Joseph's poem on the subject of getting old and much of her best material was imbued with a similar devil may care attitude to ageing. Her response to a group of youths harrassing an elderly woman is delightfully bizzare and she has a strong take on incontinence.There was also some fun local business, as she discussed her youth at a local Tunbridge Wells grammar school and mocked the alleged "chaos" expected at Tescos by the local newspaper.
As one of the first feminist voices of the 1980s alternative comedy boom, I would have been fascinated to hear Brand's take on the issues facing women today. But topics like the Jack The Ripper Museum and John Inverdale's sexist tennis commentary are touched on only briefly and without the jokes to match. It's an amiable, cosy hour that would have sent most of the crowd home happy. But as a stand-up show, it lacked punch and feels some way away from being ready to fully tour.
Having said that, I don't regret going and I'm prepared to bury the hatchet. I'd still rather watch her than the other Brand.
For a while, it became a running joke among my family and friends. Brandgate then largely lay dormant until 2013, when Paul Fleckney of London Is Funny revived it in his review of the Comedy Knights Fresh Comedian Of The Year. Clearly the stripey blue shirt I had worn for the occasion was for naught.
It was with an open mind that I picked up a last minute return for Brand's current work-in-progress tour, hoping that I would look upon her in a new light. Much of the schtick was familiar, not least the jokes about her husband. Not since Les Dawson's mother in law has a family member got quite such a kicking on stage. Much of this stuff was hit and miss, with a few hoary old puns thrown into the mix. A gag on the subject of Parmesan was cheesy in both senses of the word.
The 55 minute set was not without its pleasures. Brand referred to Jenny Joseph's poem on the subject of getting old and much of her best material was imbued with a similar devil may care attitude to ageing. Her response to a group of youths harrassing an elderly woman is delightfully bizzare and she has a strong take on incontinence.There was also some fun local business, as she discussed her youth at a local Tunbridge Wells grammar school and mocked the alleged "chaos" expected at Tescos by the local newspaper.
As one of the first feminist voices of the 1980s alternative comedy boom, I would have been fascinated to hear Brand's take on the issues facing women today. But topics like the Jack The Ripper Museum and John Inverdale's sexist tennis commentary are touched on only briefly and without the jokes to match. It's an amiable, cosy hour that would have sent most of the crowd home happy. But as a stand-up show, it lacked punch and feels some way away from being ready to fully tour.
Having said that, I don't regret going and I'm prepared to bury the hatchet. I'd still rather watch her than the other Brand.
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