STAND-UP COMEDY REVIEW: Comedy At 53Two - 53Two, Manchester.

53Two Theatre, the venue for tonight’s comedy show, always provides a warm and friendly welcome. Having been there several times before for various theatre shows, I knew a night of comedy under the arches would satisfy everyone’s funny bones. This was the second outing for ‘Comedy At 53Two’, with many more to come, I am sure. The evening provided one compere and three sets from different comedians, with a ‘beer break’ after each act.

The show’s regular compere, known only as ‘Big Lou’, had the tough task of warming-up the audience and releasing those all-important primary chuckles, which he did with ease. This was no small feat considering the intimate audience numbers. But within five minutes of the show’s start Big Lou’s friendly and personal interactions with the audience had us all feeling comfortable enough to share a hearty laugh. It is extremely important for a comedy night’s compere to have the ability to perform ‘off the cuff’ comedy, acting on instincts by reading the room and creating shared experiences with the audience members. Big Lou succeeded on all counts and without so much as a visible pause for thought. With just over a decade in the industry, Big Lou seems at home on the stage and could easily have been a stand-up comedian since birth, leaving the womb with a microphone in hand.

The first act was Chris MacArthur-Boyd; a young, Glaswegian observational comedian. MacArthur Boyd made some humorous comments about branded cereals verses the supermarket’s own brand cereals as well as his significantly taller Australian girlfriend and compared the elderly to dogs. Despite being the first performer of the evening, MacArthur-Boyd took over from Big Lou almost seamlessly; jumping straight in with lough-out-loud jokes. Being the first act did not by any means mean that he paled into insignificance in comparison with any other act. All performers earnt their own individual laughs and he was no exception. His comedy stylings were different from the compere, providing a variety that will have satisfied every member of the audience in some way.

Following the first break for drink top-ups and another outing from Big Lou, our second comedian of the night was Jon Capewell. Capewell was a warm and bubbly comedian, charming the audience from the outset with relatable jokes about weight-watchers, the cost of living and long-term relationships. He faultlessly worked audience interaction into his set, entwining their personal experiences with his own. A genuinely humorous man with pacey jokes and wit.

Our final act of the night was the show’s headliner, ‘Silky’. Having been on the circuit since 1994, Silky is practically a veteran comedian. His jokes varied the most out of all of the acts, from one-liners to tall tales, to dark and sinister humour. But what made Silky stand out amongst the usual comedy gigs was his use of music. Combining humour with lyrics and a live guitar provided a fresh perspective on stand-up comedy and had an air of Bill Bailey about him.

I expected to enjoy the night, but the host of comedians delighted me even more than I anticipated, and I hope that with time, this relatively new monthly comedy night will gain more traction and grow in popularity. This is the least that Big Lou and his guests deserve.   

Reviewer - Megan Relph
on - 24.4.22