MoodyComedy

TV Review: Mum, Series 1

June 25, 2016 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

Creator of the long-spanning BBC3 sitcom Him & Her, Stefan Golaszewski, has been channelling his writing into a new six-part bittersweet comedy, Mum. The narrative follows recently widowed Cathy as she copes (rather admirably) with the loss of her husband and the addition of a new member of the family; son Jason’s new girlfriend Kelly, who is ditsy and initially very peculiar; seeming, if only at first, to stand in stark contrast to the rest of the family.

Mum is a comedy of frustrations and miscommunication. There are backstories to consider, such as poor Kelly’s dysfunctional, perhaps even bordering on abusive, relationship with her mother. Golaszewski utilises these subtleties to consider the boundary between indecency and secrecy, frequently flirting with the idea of blurring the line between the two, forcing viewers to acknowledge their own instinctive desire to pigeon-hole characters into tropes. And there is an undeniable warmth to the narrative and these character relationships, with the constant competing of noises proposing a nostalgic element for those who grew up as part of a big family.

Lesley Manville and Peter Mullan © BBC2

Upon first viewing, some elements of the narrative may seem to be cliché, with the younger characters being highlighted as rather dense and materialistic. However, this softens as the series progresses and Jason and Kelly begin to make important life decisions, such as making plans to move to Australia. It is important to note that these personalities are not the problematic ones within the family dynamic. The bitter characters, though often overbearing in their brashness, serve as an interesting contrast against the virtuous ones, including hero of the hour Michael, played by Peter Mullan. This alludes to the notion of intentions conflicting with behaviours, with those who might be forgiven for struggling actually doing quite the opposite and those who seem put-together threatening to fall apart (note the crumbling marriage of Pauline and Derek).

Any potential over-exaggeration of antagonistic characters, Dorothy Atkinson’s Pauline in particular, is rescued by the subtlety of writing for our protagonist, Cathy. Lesley Manville shines in this production, with Cathy providing delightfully unexpected sarcasm and dark humour in moments of tension. Manville and Mullan make a tantalising onscreen pair and the potential for their friendship to blossom as each begins to move on from their past relationship is sweetly and realistically developed. This comedy is an exploration of a variety of humanity’s biggest fears, spanning from bereavement and loneliness to relationships and family values. Humble and sympathetic, Mum presents a narrative that has plenty of scope to flourish within a second series.

CATCH UP WITH SERIES ONE OF ‘MUM’ ON BBC IPLAYER

TV Review: Upstart Crow, Series 1

June 21, 2016 by Becca Moody 1 Comment

Written by Ben Elton (of The Young Ones and Blackadder fame), Upstart Crow is a BBC Two sitcom about the life and works of William Shakespeare, as part of the channel’s commemoration of the Bard’s 400th birthday. The cast is diverse and exciting, ranging from television-screen veterans David Mitchell, Liza Tarbuck and Harry Enfield, to stand up comedians Rob Rouse, Gemma Whelan and Spencer Jones, topped off with Helen Monks (Raised By Wolves), Mark Heap (Friday Night Dinner, Green Wing) and Dominic Coleman (Miranda). From the outset, viewers feel as though they can trust this cast.

David Mitchell’s portrayal of Shakespeare is a refreshing role change for the comedian. He plays a disrespected and under-appreciated playwright, whose work is openly criticised as being confusing, superfluous and grandiose (the bard himself having being famously labelled by the dramatist Robert Greene as an “upstart crow”, in effect, a boastful scavenger).

Many of the moments of laughter in Upstart Crow come from miscommunication, with Mitchell’s depiction of Shakespeare having an extra hurdle to negotiate as no other characters seem to be able to make head nor tale of his rhetoric. For those of us having briefly studied the playwright at school, we are frequently permitted the smug satisfaction of being able to appreciate a reference; something we were no doubt unable to do whilst actually studying. In this way, Shakespeare’s works are made accessible for an audience of all ages, humorously slammed by less-appreciative characters almost before Will has managed to utter beginnings of a metaphor.

The satirical misogyny is in abundance, highlighting the ridiculous nature of inequality spanning way back to the 16th century. Rob Rouse’s character, Shakespeare’s servant Bottom, is particularly moronic in his sexism (along with Kit Marlowe, played by Tim Downie; “A clever girl’s an ugly girl, Kate,”); stupid in such a way that is almost refreshing, as for once the female character is sympathised with by a modern audience. Predictable in places, perhaps, but the ridiculous nature of some of these plot lines is arguably in the same vein as of the bard’s own greatest comedies. It may be a push to label Upstart Crow an informative piece of television, but it certainly encourages further research. The life and works of Shakespeare are fondly ridiculed, with the satire skirting lightly on the border of cynicism. Here we have a modern twist on a widely-known historical figure that encourages a greater understanding of the wider context of Shakespearean Britain, and is already set to return for a second series.

UPSTART CROW IS AVAILABLE ON BBC IPLAYER

Seven Questions With… Damian Clark

June 15, 2016 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

Damian Clark is an Australian stand up comedian with an astoundingly energetic stage presence. Having lived in the UK for four years now, Clark has perfected a skill for dissecting elements of British culture and pointing out their absurdities. This comedian is certainly one to experience in a live comedy setting.

To find out more about Damian, I asked him these seven questions…

1) Where does your passion for comedy come from?

My passion for comedy started with watching The Muppets, Looney Tunes & Tex Avery Cartoons. A mouse hitting a cat in the butt with a plank of wood will always be funny to me.

2) What did you most enjoy about living in Australia?

Meat pies, choc milk, iced coffee, Cherry Ripes & Cheese Twisties.

3) Is there such thing as wasted time?

Probably but it’s one of my favourite things to do. All the best paintings start with a blank canvas… just dunno where to find a brush.

4) Do you have any tricks for maintaining energy on stage?

Keep talking about stuff that makes you excited or angry and the energy will be there. Delusion is also a great tool.

5) What is your worst character trait?

Being a drunk is probably my best and worst trait at the same time. Waiting outside an early house pub to open at 6:30am is both legendary and sad.

6) What do you miss about your life as it was ten years ago?

My life 10 years ago seems exactly the same as it is now, I ate a LOT more McDonald’s then though. Miss all those burgers.

7) Are you in control?

Naaaaaaaa.

DOWNLOAD DAMIAN CLARK’S LATEST SPECIAL ‘GRAND THEFT DAMO’

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

Review: Katherine Ryan – Kathbum

June 8, 2016 by Becca Moody 1 Comment

Perhaps a bit late to the party, as her DVD record at the Eventim Apollo is due to take place the following night, hundreds of fans flock to Birmingham’s Town Hall to see Katherine Ryan’s critically acclaimed and Chortle Award-winning show, Kathbum.

Ryan varies her support acts throughout each tour, and tonight’s warm-up entertainment comes from Stephen Bailey, who, as Katherine rightfully states herself, better fits the criteria for a headline act than a support slot these days in terms of competence in performance. Stephen is a wise head on young shoulders; reassuringly secure in himself and his act in a way that enables him to take an audience under his wing. With an attitude of confidence and independence, blended with a humorous suggestion of neediness, Bailey’s material is slick, but not so slick that audiences have difficulty warming to him.

Katherine Ryan has blossomed over the past year and this is clear from the moment she walks on stage, greeted by bellowing cheers of excitement and endearment. She appears surprisingly relaxed, but humble, explaining her reasons for always bringing a support act with her on tour before progressing towards the heart of the show.

This comic is constantly developing as a writer and performer, which is some feat considering how smart and cutting her comedy has been since her first UK tour in 2013. This latest show is about evolving as an individual as those we grew up with do the same, and the inevitable drift from those we used to relate to. Ryan uses this as a tool to discuss issues relating to overcoming the judgements of others and being assured enough in ourselves to make the decisions that are best for us. The somewhat-obsessive interest in celebrity culture is still apparent, serving as a metaphor for greater issues in society such as racism and misogyny.

Katherine’s comedy is self-aware in a triumphant sense, rather than a defeatist one. Her craft is admirable, with each narrative carried out to its conclusion and perfectly timed callbacks that fit into the performance, rather than shape it. She is professional, yet personal; brutally honest but not irrational in her cutting remarks with each issue being clinically dissected and evaluated before any ill-informed opinions are able to be expressed. And whilst she may introduce challenging concepts, Ryan always has her audience’s best interests in mind, assuming an almost-maternal role that shines through brightest when she talks directly to young female audience members; whom we might deduce to be her target demographic.

Katherine Ryan is not fazed by anything, it seems, whether that be hecklers or significant life events. The quality of her craft is creatively motivating; the content emotionally uplifting, whilst remaining delightfully unpredictable, accessible and genuine.

KATHERINE RYAN’S DVD RECORDING OF ‘KATHBUM’ WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON

May: Comedian Of The Month #28, Tez Ilyas

June 5, 2016 by Becca Moody 2 Comments

Each Comedian of the Month on MoodyComedy is a comic who has never previously featured on the website. Reasons for selection can include various current projects the comedian is involved with, or perhaps recent appearances on television programmes or podcasts. There is no strict criteria however, as Comedian of the Month simply stands as a collection of recommendations, highlighting interesting and original aspects of certain comedians and their work.

An interesting performer featured on the BBC’s recent online stand up showcase, Live From The BBC, is Tez Ilyas, a 33-year-old comedian who has been working as a stand up for around six years.

This bright-eyed comic is smart, self-assured and unperturbed. Ilyas has a cheeky chappy demeanour about him, particularly with regard to his material stemming from his religious background and Pakistani heritage. This is somewhat similar to that of Imran Yusef, with both performers having free reign over their subjects in such as way that other comedians would have difficulty accessing. This ability to break through any potential discomfort when approaching ‘taboo’ topics such as racism or terrorism and gives Tez Ilyas a subtly powerful stance in the room.

Much of his material that is available online stems from a few of this comedian’s core values, with this emotional accessibility making Tez an immediately likeable performer. The laughter often comes from a desire to be onside with Ilyas, with his approachable demeanour breaking down taboo topics into more accessible elements. Tez Ilyas brings his latest show Made in Britain to this year’s Edinburgh Festival.

For more information, visit Tez Ilyas’ website and follow him on Twitter.

APRIL COMEDIAN OF THE MONTH

Review: Bramall Comedy Night Wayne Deakin, Ivo Graham & Andrew Ryan

May 25, 2016 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

Ivo Graham

The latest comedy night at the Bramall at the University of Birmingham sees two returning acts to the stage, compèred Australian stand up Wayne Deakin. Deakin’s enthusiastic demeanour allows him to win over a crowd within the first couple of minutes, even a particularly quiet, low-energy gathering it seems. He flits around the room, asking surprisingly interesting off-the-mark questions to audience members about their jobs and relationships. Deakin is able to effortlessly create an atmosphere of familiarity and goodwill, summoning an energy from apparently nowhere which enables him to break through any starchy feeling that a compère may be faced with.

Next, Ivo Graham ambles on stage, announcing that there is a “nervous energy in the room,” of which he seems to feed off. Graham is apologetically middle class, appearing rather defeatist in his outlook at times, perhaps due to an apparent concern for the way others might perceive him. Immediately adopting a ‘loser’ status, it seems that this comic wishes to be likeable but also slightly enjoys the alienation that comes with playing up to his Eton College upbringing. Ivo proves himself to be a very capable and efficient storyteller, incorporating a sinister element to his delivery that may be caused, in part, by the inevitable tension caused by confiding in an audience about his schooling.

The final performer of the evening is Andrew Ryan. Charming and bright-eyed; eager to entertain and unafraid of sharing more intimate details about his life in front of a live audience. His anecdotes are confident and consistent, his delivery assured, and even relatively untested material seems to have legs. It appears that this gig provides particular benefits for the structuring of Ryan’s narratives, with the comic feeding off his own energy to propel him in all sorts of directions, providing plenty of room to develop these for his latest Edinburgh show.

BRAMALL COMEDY NIGHTS

Seven Questions With… Ben Norris

May 21, 2016 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

Ben Norris has been on the stand up comedy circuit since the early 1990’s and has compiled an impressive back-catalogue of writing and television credits over the years. With a somewhat more light-hearted style of comedy than his stern demeanour may suggest this comedian is effortlessly able to incorporate sinister elements into more topical and accessible material.

To learn more about Ben, I asked him these seven questions…

1) What is the weirdest thing about your life?

It might be that I have three children who were all born on the same day 10 years ago.

2) Do you like to plan ahead?

Planning ahead is part and parcel of being a comedian. We are booking gigs into our diaries 8, 9, 10 months ahead of time. I’m always booking cheaper train tickets in the same manner. Having said that I often don’t think beyond the next few days or even look at the following weekend in my diary until it comes up.

3) What is your least favourite kind of audience?

Judgemental, entitled, drunk and stupid… that was a tough night.

4) Is everyone a conformist?

I think most people are. Sadly conformity is hugely popular. I, on the other hand, am a free thinking radical… with a wife, three kids and a mortgage.

5) Do you have many unpopular opinions?

I think animals have rights and ought not to be factory farmed and eaten. It appears that’s an opinion not shared by the majority. (Of people that is, I reckon animals would be in total agreement.)

6) Is the comedy industry over-populated?

It’s a meritocracy so it’s hugely over-populated at the bottom end but that only serves to keep the quality up further up the pecking order I guess.

7) Are you young or old at heart?

I’m 48.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT BEN NORRIS’ WEBSITE

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

TV Review: Flowers, Series 1

May 18, 2016 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

If there ever was a sitcom that could bring about feelings of discomfort and sorrow whilst also being oddly life-affirming, it is Flowers. Starring Julian Barratt and Olivia Colman as the leads, Flowers is a story of a disjointed and deeply unhappy family; each person within it acting and speaking with the best of intentions but possessing an inability to communicate their innermost thoughts and feelings.

Flowers is the artistic creation of 29-year-old Will Sharpe, who wrote and directed the series as well as playing the character of Shun, a young and enthusiastic Japanese artist who lives with the Flowers family and works for Maurice (Barratt). Deborah (Colman) and Maurice are a likeable but floundering pair, desperately trying to cling to each other as all manner of chaotic events and disruptive people threaten to reap havoc with their personal lives.

The subject matter of Flowers is morbid, the series begins with a suicide attempt, but the production is aesthetically dark also, along with a delightfully jarring score. With a rapidly developing narrative, yet still managing to capture a meandering, morose tone, as well as nurturing a fondness for each individual character as we learn more of their backgrounds and aspirations. Sophia Di Martino and Daniel Rigby (Big School, Undercover) effortlessly capture the mannerisms of, and tensions between, bickering twins Amy and Donald, who are 25 and still live at home. This dynamic is explored thoroughly but sensitively; yet another example of idiosyncrasy in the production, successfully avoiding lazy or over-generalised observations regarding how siblings interact with one another, and how the ‘children’ fit within the wider family. Maurice’s narrated excerpts from his Mr Grubb children’s novels add further sinister element to the overall production, with these readings from the struggling children’s writer giving Flowers a hint of The Babadook about it.

It seems to be rather wasteful for the entire series to have been broadcast over the course of one week, though this is perhaps an indicator of the changing habits of British television-viewers. This does, however, make it easier for eager viewers to binge-watch the series in one sitting and then step outside three hours later, blinking into the light and exhaling that breath they’d been holding since episode two.

It’s quite some feat, considering the magnitude of this cast, that the stand-out performance for me is that of Sharpe himself, particularly as his role develops from that of a jester to an emotional reconciler as events dramatically unfold. In an interview with The British Comedy Guide, Sharpe sums up his artistic aims with the project: “The show is about melancholy and family, and it’s about people feeling trapped or alone. It’s also about how your own state of mind can affect those around you.” Here is a prime example of a case where a distinct creative vision has been successfully defined and then translated into a stunning piece that seems to encapsulate everything it intended to, whilst also alluding to more. This melancholic masterpiece is hands down the most spectacular piece of television I have ever seen. Flowers broke my heart and then fixed it again.

FLOWERS SERIES 1 IS AVAILABLE ON ALL4

Seven Questions With… John Dredge

May 11, 2016 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

John Dredge is a comedy writer and podcaster best known for his absurd sketch show, The John Dredge Nothing To Do With Anything Show. This podcast serves as a deliberate move away from long-form narrative, incorporating surreal storytelling with plenty of musical interludes and sounds effects.

I asked John these seven questions to learn more about him…

1) Is podcasting a liberating art form?

Yes, it is for me, because it’s a medium which allows me to give free reign to my peculiar imagination in a ‘safe’ context. Nobody’s going to say ‘You can’t do that!’. The audio environment is ideal because I can create the strangest of situations and make them sound real with a few voices, sound effects and pieces of music.

2) Do you have much spatial awareness?

No, but I do have a piece of knotted string. I was thinking of exhibiting it in the Hayward Gallery but they don’t seem very enthusiastic, even though I wouldn’t need much space. On reflection I do have some awareness of how much space my display would take up. I am also very much aware of the space-time continuum, although I have never invited it to the Hayward Gallery.

3) What do you do when you’re angry?

My anger usually turns into fairly savage comedy. I tweet a lot to get it out of my system. I’m fairly obsessed with the media so it’s usually something to do with that. You can follow me @johndredge for an alarming insight into the myriad problems with my brain.

4) Who are your comedic influences?

My favourite double acts would have to be either Orm and Cheep or Sarah and Duck. I’m also greatly influenced by Bernard Tharggg who had the largest collection of cagoules in Europe.

I’ve always loved anyone who seemed comedically insane. I wouldn’t be doing this had I not heard The Goon Show at an early age – that did my head in. The inventiveness of the language, the use of sound, the creation of an imaginary world, it all had a big effect on me. I still listen to that show now. I’ve always liked Vic Reeves, who amongst other things had the confidence to present a really weird comic vision to the world. Tiswas was a big one for me. It was so joyously chaotic and off-the-wall. I want to get some of that spirit into my work if I can. Noel Fielding has similar influences to me, although he kind of puts them together in a different way, so I’ve always followed his work. I’m also influenced by the magazines and comic books of my youth like Look-in and Krazy, which nobody has ever heard of, including me.

5) Who is your favourite artist?

My favourite artist of all time is Kenny Everett, and to me his greatest achievement was the series of Video Shows he did in the late seventies. Those shows were so innovative in their use of sound and vision, and were completely unique to him. He was such a charismatic performer, and completely round the bend. I’ve always been drawn to artists who create their own world. Escapism is necessary for me on a daily basis. Make of that what you will – a large paper hat, for example.

6) What is your ultimate career aim?

To boldly go where no man has gone before – or Lewisham if it’s raining.

I’ve always wanted to make a TV version of my podcast series, a mad, fast-moving, frenetic sketch show. I thought Noel Fielding’s sketch series was fascinating, so maybe something in that area. Or in the Lewisham area. I do a lot of YouTube videos that seem to do quite well, so I don’t think it would be a problem to translate my humour to a visual medium. I would also like to make a sitcom about a family of talking pipes.

7) What aspect of your life bores you?

Having to get up at 5am to deliver pinecones to Buckingham Palace. I’ve been doing that for ten years now and it is extremely boring. How many pinecones do they need? There’s got to be a better job out there. I’m open to offers.

LISTEN TO ‘THE JOHN DREDGE NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING SHOW’ HERE

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

April: Comedian Of The Month #27, Spencer Jones

May 4, 2016 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

Each Comedian of the Month on MoodyComedy is a comic who has never previously featured on the website. Reasons for selection can include various current projects the comedian is involved with, or perhaps recent appearances on television programmes or podcasts. There is no strict criteria however, as Comedian of the Month simply stands as a collection of recommendations, highlighting interesting and original aspects of certain comedians and their work.

Spencer Jones is certainly a performer that takes some getting used to. Appearing as his character The Herbert, a strange and spritely figure with bright clothes and hunched shoulders, Jones approaches the medium of stand up comedy in a way I haven’t quite seen before, throwing out customary communication norms with little regard for them.

In a recent interview with Stuart Goldsmith for The Comedian’s Comedian, Spencer states that it is important to “Let people know you’re under pressure but really happy about it,” and this mantra sums up his style of comedy effectively. The comic gives frequent non-verbal signals to audiences that he cannot quite understand how he is getting away with this; the look on his face suggests a query of, ‘Why am I here, and why are the laughing?’. Often it seems as though he has little control over his own actions on stage, though closer inspection can determine that his act is incredibly closely crafted with the chaos that Jones alludes to serving only as dramatic illusion.

It all seems very innocent; Spencer utilises music, costume and props that all have an air of the home-made about them. His facial expressions are often reminiscent of Rowan Atkinson’s Mr Bean and it does seem that The Herbert would make a fantastic children’s television character. In the meantime, though, Spencer Jones’ recent performance on Live From The BBC is still available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

For more information, visit Spencer Jones’ website and follow him on Twitter.

MARCH COMEDIAN OF THE MONTH