Dr Ettrick-Hogg is the very macho compere for this evening of male stand-ups talking about manly things and being generally masculine. The line-up changes every night, but you can be assured of one thing: there are absolutely no women whatsoever to be found in this show.
Dragging together three comedians into one show can prove a recipe for disaster, but Dr Ettrick-Hogg clearly has good taste and it’s also vastly to its credit that the show doesn’t serve simply as an advert for the comedians’ solo work. Dr Ettrick-Hog provides a coherent theme throughout the night, presenting various tongue in cheek jokes against women peppered with intelligent wit. There are puns, hilarious sketches of anatomies and a lot of reassurance about the doctor’s gender. Dr Ettrick-Hogg clearly has comedy talent in her bones, although this is more evident in her (sorry, his) writing abilities, rather than in her (sorry his) delivery, which can be a little too understated at times; when the gags are good, it’s a shame to lose a single one.
On this particularly evening we were served up a trio of Ettrick-Hogg's most manly men. First up we had Leicestershire's Matt Hollins, who hit us with self-deprecating humour about his inability to get women and his time working at a biscuit factory. He has the delivery of an Eeyore-type character: everything is a little slow, brooding and gloomy, which creates a rather unique comedic persona. He’s a likeable guy who milks the downbeat nature of his own delivery to great effect.
Second was self-declared 'edgy' comedian Woodward. His written material is based around awful wordplay and tortured and derivative storytelling, but he is naturally funny and bounces back off last-lustre gags with hilarious self-commentary - ‘I know madam, it’s a bit much to take, ’- and a twinkling charm. You will find yourself laughing regardless of how any of his jokes go down and his audience warmed to him instantly.
Third was the weird and wonderful Al Grant who will certainly put hairs on your chest with his crude songs, accompanied by his electric guitar. His singing voice is probably the most successful part of his section, however, as his use of taboo subjects appears to be for effect more than anything. A song about necrophilia in particular, seems to rest solely on the fact that its premise is controversial. However, if you like that brand of comedy where rude is funny, Grant is for you, with other songs such as Clean Bollocks also in the mix.
It’s Dr Ettrick Hogg who really makes this show what it is, and she (sorry, he) provides a nice twist to what otherwise would be yet another compilation show of a few comedians. An interesting hour of comedy, whose host you will never forget.
