Breakneck Comedy
22 March 2014
“Saturday night at 8 o’clock, I know where I’m gonna go, I’m gonna meet-up with my good friend and go to the Comedy Show.” The Breakneck Comedy show at the Blue Lamp to be exact! The good friend, well that was Paddy.
After a busy week at work we decided that a bit of light relief was the order of the day, so we headed along to the Blue Lamp on the Gallowgate (prior to a swift Belgium Half Pint in the fabulous 6⁰North, just along the road). The venue is quirky and intimate with candles the main form of lighting, and lots of round tables and old church pews packed with people ready to be entertained. In my mind the perfect venue for comedy, rather than some big soul-less arena.
Once we had the gin’s in and managed to find a free seat (not in the front row!), we settled down to enjoy the first act. The set-up is the same every week, the first 2 acts are local comedians and the headline of the night is an up and coming comedian from around the UK.
Gus Lymburn, Breaknecks inimitable MC started proceedings by picking out the somewhat reserved stag party in the front row, although he did manage to get the stag to take his shirt off! The couple on the first date – which as Gus put it – ‘was comedy gold’ (although I don’t think they agreed!) Anyway on with the show…!
The first comic was Jim Smith, a farmer from Perthshire who had studied up here and knew just how to tickle the funny bone of the locals. My personal favourite was his Robbie Shepherd impression and his likening of a night in a Peterhead Nightclub to fishing…I’ll leave the rest to your imagination!
A quick break gave us all a moment to top up our gin and get ready for the second act of the night, Neil Skene, Scotland’s only Blind Comic. He gave us his hilarious ‘view’ on life at some of the ridiculous things us sighted people say to him – ‘it must be a great comfort to you having a blind dog…!’
After 2 great acts the audience excitement was palpable for the headline - Rory O’Hanlon. Yes, you guessed it, he is an Irish comic. His sharp observational wit, especially of the group of lads on a night-out in the front row (and Neil’s Jack Daniel’s belt…!), made us glad we had opted for seats well hidden from the comedians eye line.
By the end, the stresses of the week were long forgotten after a hilarious evening. There are shows on every Tuesday and Saturday at The Blue Lamp at 8pm, so head down for some laughter therapy soon!