Something told me before I went in that this was going to be a good show. I was right. Carl Donnelly came on as compere and started off the usual routine by asking the audience what they did for a living. The first answer came back as a dolphin trainer and from there it was only going to get better, as the previous Comedy Club had missed out on the audience participation it had needed. This time it wasn’t needed, but was used to the comedians’ advantage. Images of a large mammal doing tricks at Harrow Lodge Park lake was matched by the audience member admitting it wasn’t true, he was a deck hand on a submarine. Another person said he was a shepherd in Hornchurch- Interesting.

       By the time the first act, Daniel Towns, had come on the audience were already laughing loudly. Daniel stated he was from Australia, starting off with stories about his international visits to South Africa and the U.S.A. and found the different ways the police behave to powdered contraband. The American police had no tolerance whatsoever, even to jokes, but the South Africans had their own way of dealing with things, on the spot justice- don’t try to mess them about, whatever you do! He also played the ‘I’m an Australian’ to get by in his stories. Each time a story eased off a new one started, slightly unexpectedly, and with a very funny punchline.

       After the break Carl came back on to find two women chatting to each other. He asked them what they were talking about and it was noticeable that they’d had too much vino. From then on one of them played her part in the show with some comments that were used throughout the next act. Paul Tonkinson was going to find it difficult after Carl and Daniel had done such a good job but was able to show why he’s been on television for his work. By going through his standard act he had a good response and finished off with a crescendo that had tears streaming down some faces.

        I couldn’t do this show justice if I said any more. For a Thursday night out at £10 a ticket this was well worth the entrance fee. I’ll definitely be back for the next one on 30^th October and again on the 27^th November.

Tim. Coyle