Last night saw some of Glasgow University’s funniest alumni return to their student union for a comedy showcase held in support of Stonewall. Compered by Scott Agnew, five comedians took their turn at the mike for a laughter-filled evening.
First on stage was Susie McCabe, who kickstarted the event with aplomb. A smart, well-rounded set saw her mix bluer humour with sharp wit, a perfect mix for this audience. Her material about whisky snobs was a highlight, and lifted the set above its fairly conventional subjects, but she also proved adept at interacting with the audience.
Next up was Janet Harman, who went down a treat with the crowd. Whilst her material was a little rough around the edges, her inventive stage persona – a forty-eight year old semi-professional darts player from the North West of England, taking night school classes in Turkish in order to meet men – was hilarious. With a little refinement and a broader scope, this act could be very successful.
Compere Agnew’s impressive ability to work with the audience was showcased throughout the evening, and he took the opportunity to milk the crowd for what they were worth, as well as trying out some new material about his experiences at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Stephen Callaghan, a Glaswegian newcomer, followed the interval. Callaghan is clearly a gifted storyteller and a smart comic, blending conventional observation with anecdotal wit. He managed to tailor his material for the evening well, even whilst testing the waters of decency a couple of times.
Headliner Susan Calman finished the night off, rattling through an imposingly good set with ease. Deploying brilliant material about her own experiences studying at Glasgow University (and the reason that she was banned from the Union during her time as a student there), Calman also managed to brilliantly engage with the crowd. Her rapier wit was revealed during several off-the-cuff exchanges with audience members, and much of the set was unscripted and spontaneous, making her performance especially fun to watch.
All in all, a diverse and funny mix of acts.
