Tony Law Archives - MoodyComedy

Ask The Expert: Chris Evans (Not That One)

April 12, 2020 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

Chris Evans is the founder of the film production and distribution company, Go Faster Stripe. From Stewart Lee to Seymour Mace, Go Faster Stripe has produced a huge variety of live comedy recordings, and the company continues to grow its catalogue each year.

MoodyComedy chatted to Chris to find out more…

Hello Chris! How did Go Faster Stripe begin?

Hello. Thanks for asking me to do this – but I am hardly an expert. We started as a bit of a ridiculous dream. I read somewhere that Stewart Lee was having trouble getting his show recorded for DVD. I had seen the show, and I thought it was ridiculous that no one wanted to film it.

At that time I was working in a little arts centre in Cardiff and as I was wandering through the theatre one afternoon I thought that it would make a great venue for a DVD recording. A couple of days later – in the bath – I remembered I had a couple of mates that were cameramen, and I knew a chap who was handy with his sound recording equipment. So – by chance – I had all the components in place to record Stew’s show, and I wrote to him and told him. To my huge surprise and absolute delight he agreed to come down.

We filmed the show, and then we surprised ourselves again when it came out rather well. So Go Faster Stripe was formed to release it. I had a pint with Stew to celebrate, and he suggested I got in touch with Richard Herring to ask if he had anything he’d like us to record. And then it all went from there. I now have my dream job. I am very lucky.

Where did your love of comedy originate?

I don’t know. I mean we all like a laugh, don’t we? I had a friend from school that shared my love of comedy. We used to record Radio 4 comedy shows and were hungry for any laughs we could get our hands on. We used to go to the bookshop in Cardiff and browse their comedy book section. Now I’m thinking about it, I think I was just after funny things to say to my friends in school. You know, so I could be popular. We all want to be popular, don’t we?

Who do you most enjoy watching perform?

I enjoy watching people comfortable in what they are doing. I love the likes of Tony Law and Simon Munnery – you can tell immediately that neither of them are copying anyone else. And that they’ve evolved their own styles.

Why do you continue to do what you do?

This is my perfect job. I wouldn’t change it for anything. I try and keep things sustainable, and not risk too much on any daft projects, whilst at the same time making sure I get involved in daft projects.

What element of your work are you most proud of?

I’m over the moon that I’ve managed to save some excellent shows for future generations. And I like to think that we’ve done it with a little bit of style. I like that we’ve managed to get our DVDs jam packed with loads of extras and hidden stuff.

Oh, and I’m really proud of a Robin Ince DVD we made that plays in a different random order every time you put it on. It took ages to get that to work.

VISIT GO FASTER STRIPE HERE

ASK THE EXPERT…

Edinburgh Review: Tony Law – Identifies

August 14, 2019 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

[usr 4]

‘Tony Law Identifies what?’ I hear you ask. Well, according to Law, his show’s namesake could be referring to absolutely anything. Just pick something from the hour of madness; anything.

You can really notice a difference in Law’s onstage persona compared to previous years. From the top, he gives off the same frenetic energy that fans know and love. But Law’s own self-discipline and the structure of the material in general feels far more controlled now. This newfound stability doesn’t take anything away from the comedy itself, however, with Tony covering a characteristically broad array of topics, including time travel, performing for the Russian aristocracy with a violent chimp, and the new addition to his family: a rabbit named Woodstock.

And despite what he tells us, Law can do observational comedy, even if the things he observes are not entirely based in reality. He also utilises his aptitude for accents, dipping in and out of various dialects with such fluidity that we barely notice the transition until it’s already happened.

While last year’s show, A Lost Show, explored Law’s relationship with alcohol and the changes he’s discovered since quitting drinking, Tony’s road to sobriety doesn’t get much of a mention in this latest hour. In fact, Identifies feels as though Law has moved beyond this, and in doing so he invites his audience to really get to know other parts of him.

Perhaps it’s unsurprising, then, that it’s the material about his home life that is most pleasing, as audiences rarely get this glimpse into the everyday Tony, who is a husband, father and pet owner. The way his eyes light up when he talks about his beloved German Shepherd, Wolfy, could stir even the coldest of hearts.

Identifies is a highly energised hour of whimsical observation from a true absurdist comedy powerhouse. Catch the show at Monkey Barrel 3 at 12.15pm throughout August.

Tony Law: The Edinburgh Interviews 2019

July 8, 2019 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

Who? Tony Law

What? Identifies

Where? Monkey Barrel 3 (Venue 515)

When? 12:15

What are your feelings as you enter into this year’s Edinburgh Fringe season?

Trepidation then at turns blank coldness. Like life really. Intensely nervous but pretending I’m old and cool.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

This will be my 16th show. For 15 I did funny from beginning to end trying to be original. Not worked getting me on TV. So this year no jokes. Just talking with a nice hat on. 2 songs. That’s it. Oddly this is the one I’ve written the most for. Maybe over 100000 words. And threw it all out. Well it’s still there. But I don’t like it. So. No more mister funny. However I’m not doing a structure either. It’s like cheating. University students using their essay skills in Edinburgh. Can’t compete. So just talking and moving. And pretending. Play.

What is the biggest obstacle you face(d) while putting this show together?

Erm. My tour of my last show went rather late. Also I’m a moron and I find it hard to write. But I got given an old laptop. My first since 2013. So I just wrote 8 hours a day minimum for months. But it’s all Shit. So. See above.

Has your attitude towards the Fringe changed at all in recent years?

No. I’ve always known it’s a middle class bubble of progressive like minded people. I like that though. I get along very well with the middle classes and many of my interests align with them. The locals rip you off. Upper class men own the venues and make all the money. The posh eating themselves. I try rebel by being as crap at stand up as possible whilst still getting laughs. It is what it is. My friends come see me there. It’s like farming. Edinburgh is my spring seeding and the rest of the year I tour what the festival helped grow.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Phil Nichol.

Where would you like to be in a year’s time?

On a holiday. Been years n years.

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR TONY LAW: ‘IDENTIFIES’ HERE

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2019

The Edinburgh Interviews 2017: Tony Law

July 26, 2017 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

Love surrealist comedy or loathe it, you have to admire Tony Law for his commitment to the craft. Law’s comedy is as uncompromising as it is energetic, and Absurdity For The Common People looks set to prove that absurd, shouty humour isn’t just for an isolated few. Tony will be performing at The Stand throughout August.

1) What excites you most about the Edinburgh Festival?

I simply get a thrill. A real kick out of making people laugh and possibly think or think I’m clever. Sad as it sounds I quite need it. I need to be funny bones.

2) What was/is your first Edinburgh show about?

This one here is about grieving for your past loved ones and past selves and about ups and downs. Buried in metaphor and trampolining and voices and absurdity. Being Alive is absurd.

3) Does your comedy attract a certain type of audience?

Yes. Very nice, intelligent yet super diverse. People with imaginations of their own. Really cannot sum them up easily as they are so many different ages 12-80 and backgrounds. I’d say they all are flawed folks trying to be decent. Wonderful.

4) What is the worst experience you’ve had with Edinburgh accommodation?

Alcohol related. Can’t think about it. Can’t bare how we are exploited up there by greedy pricks and their shitty flats. Cunts.

5) What is your most treasured memory of your comedy career so far?

Royal Albert hall. Making the teenage cancer kids laugh really really hard. And Roger Daltrey laughed too.

6) What show will you definitely be seeing at the festival this year?

Adam Larter. Mostly me. I can’t wait to do my show. I love it.

7) What do you hope to gain from the Edinburgh Festival this year?

More followers. Build my audience back up. The old fashioned word of mouth way.

8) What do you imagine your last ever show will be about?

Was worried I did that already years back. Made it though. Indestructible.

BOOK TICKETS FOR TONY LAW: ABSURDITY FOR THE COMMON PEOPLE, AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

THE EDINBURGH INTERVIEWS 2017

Review: Tony Law – A Law Undo His-elf What Welcome

December 24, 2016 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

My first visit to Chapter Arts Cardiff is a memorable one. I am attending the Go Faster Stripe DVD recording of Tony Law’s latest stand up hour: A Law Undo His-elf What Welcome and am unsure what to expect from the zany Canadian comic this time around. I’ve heard he’s changed a lot in the past few months.

Tony Law arrives with his usual energetic vigour. He boasts a pair of Waitrose gardening gloves and has gaffer-taped his torso tightly, stating that he is ‘newly fat’, and is clutching on to two gymnastics ribbons. He opens the show with some interpretive dance. So far, so Tony Law.

But the performer has another string to his bow this year. It seems that he has become wise in his recently found sobriety. This latest show is far more self-reflective than previous years; Law has slowed the pace down ever so slightly and allowed a glint of vulnerability to shine through. He declares that he’s developed stage fright since giving up the drink, as well as a fear of crowds.

A big change in Tony’s life comes from the purchasing of a ‘therapy dog’, a beautiful black German Shepherd. The comedian spends much of his time walking his new dog in the woods near his home. Of course, followers of Tony Law on social media will already be aware of this addition to Tony’s family, as he has a regular Instagram series entitled ‘Calling My Dog Back in the Woods’. His dog, as well as his family, are clearly this comedian’s world, and it’s truly a delight to see.

But Law’s comedy hasn’t changed as much as his general presence has; the contents of this latest show is similar to past years, full to the brim with off-the-wall concepts and ideas. He’s an auditory as well as visual performer, and the inclusion of music and various sound effects (note his series of aeroplane impressions and infamous microphone-foghorn) are interesting ways of breaking up the material and ensuring that the energy in the room remains at dizzy heights throughout the show.

Tony Law is somewhat of an enigma to me. No audience member can comprehend the journey Tony has taken, but his openness is refreshing. For a deeper insight into his transition from ‘off the rails’ Tony to the zen character we now see before us, listen to ‘Tony Law Returns’ on Stu Goldsmith’s Comedian’s Comedian Podcast. For those who listened to the initial interview back in 2014, you will notice a drastic different in his persona.

This comedian may have settled down considerably but he is still excitingly energetic. And the best thing about this whole debacle is that Tony Law seems to be enjoying performing so much more.

VISIT GO FASTER STRIPE FOR PHYSICAL AND DOWNLOADABLE COPIES OF STAND UP FROM AN IMPRESSIVE RANGE OF ACTS.

Review: Tony Law: Frillemorphesis

April 13, 2016 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

It sounds like Tony Law has had a turbulent year. He returns to the stage with an air of a wise traveller, declaring that he has been doing “a whole lot of therapy lately” and has recently given up drinking. He states that we are all mainly there to “see if he’s alright,” which, it may surprise Law to hear, rings partly true.

An enlightened Tony Law is perhaps even more fascinating than his more bashful, younger self. He’s just as enigmatic, just as physical and certainly just as shouty, but his latest hour brings more personal elements than audiences have previously been subject to. That is not to say that his show is free of hilarious gimmicks and props: an extremely heavy cape, the plastic head of a horse, Mickey Mouse gloves, a trombone.

Tony Law

There are more down-to-earth elements of Frillemorphesis than I have noticed in previous shows. Tony frequently references his family pets, time spent at last year’s Edinburgh Festival and even the car he drives (it was a shock to most that he is even allowed on the roads, judging by the fact that half an hour previously he had been energetically impersonating a horse).

It is intrinsically important that we don’t get too caught up in Law’s narrative, as this often leads to confusion. The trick is to let yourself get swept up and trust that this comedian will tie up all the loose ends eventually. I don’t know how he does it but the mayhem is invigorating. He’s very aware of his own absurdities but doesn’t seem to care in the slightest. And though his surreality may alienate audience members who don’t follow, it only serves to strengthen the sense of community within those who do: Tony refers to his stand up as “a bit of a group effort,” and in many respects he is absolutely spot on. The audience of a Tony Law gig is a hell of a lot rowdier than that of many other performers I have seen; we reflect his own energy and enthusiasm. In this sense, I believe that Tony Law is comedy at its finest. And all over by 9.30pm.

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH TONY LAW

A Guide To Edinburgh 2015

August 7, 2015 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

That time of year is upon us once more; thousands of performers, reviewers and audience members are preparing to visit the holy grail of comedy that is the Edinburgh Festival. Here is a quick run through of everything MoodyComedy would be attending if only I could get there this year. Do get in touch if you attend any of these shows, or see something else that you think should be featured. You can also catch up with the past week’s exclusive MoodyComedy interviews.

Stuff That’s Gold

Katherine Ryan

Katherine Ryan is performing her latest show, Kathbum, currently riding high on her phenomenal rise to fame in recent years and showing no signs of stopping any time soon. With every new show, Katherine only increases in her wisdom, experience and cutting sass, similar to that of Irish charmer Aisling Bea who brings her second show, Plan Bea, to the festival. Another name to watch out for is that of Luisa Omielan, who will perform a very limited run of her second show Am I Right Ladies?!. Omielan is a performer that cares about her audience to an extent I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed before: her show is empowering, lively and not to be missed.

James Acaster presents another whacky hour of surreal yet surprisingly dramatic story-telling stand up in his show Represent and Joe Lycett returns, with possibly the best show title of the year: That’s The Way, A-Ha A-Ha, Joe Lycett. And it would frankly be a mistake to miss out on seeing Bridget Christie‘s latest show, A Book For Her, which sees the launch of her debut novel, and showcases her trademark blend of feminism and spectacular comedy.

Stuff That’s Odd

Tony Law, the king of surreal comedy, is performing his new show Frillemorphesis where he explores ideas such as shouting, moving and talking, absolutely standard. A live show from the Tone Zone is an opportunity not to be missed, or forgotten in a hurry, and his being in this category is by no means a suggestion that this show will not also be Gold.

Shouty extraordinaire Bobby Mair brings another dark and bitterly funny show off the back of his recent television successes, entitled Filthy Immigrant; Tom Allen performs Both Worlds with his signature sinister calm and endearing flamboyance and Harriet Kemsley, who spent the first part of this year supporting Katherine Ryan on tour, also performs her debut hour, Puppy Fat, which has got the critics excited. If you like a bit of audience interaction, Jonny Awsum’s show Everything Is Awsum will be another unforgettable experience, as will Patrick Monahan’s seventies-inspired show The Disco Years.

Stuff That’s Free

Now any Edinburgh Festival-goer will be able to tell you that ticket price does not necessarily dictate quality; free shows are on the rise as they are a great way of ensuring the trip is more affordable for comedians and fans alike. There are some real gems performing shows this year that rely on kind donations alone.

Lou Sanders

Rob Auton has prepared another delightfully off-kilter, poetical concept show entitled The Water Show where he considers everything surrounding the theme of water, much like his previous shows which have centred around themes such as Yellow, Sky and Face. Elf Lyons‘ Being Barbarella is a high-octane adventure, discussing science fiction, liberation and sharks. This lady is a true one-off, who’s surreal form of comedy is often likened to The Mighty Boosh. And Lou Sanders, being the wonderful shambles of a performer that she is, brings her insane show about her efforts to get accepted into Eton College For Boys, of course entitled: Excuse Me, You’re Sitting On My Penis Again.

Stuart Goldsmith will also be recording episodes of The Comedian’s Comedian Podcast where he interviews everyone that is anyone in the world of comedy, delving deep into the psyche of the performer and having many laughs in the process. The line up for this year is stellar and although the recordings are free to attend and non-ticketed, the venue will undoubtedly fill up quickly on the night so plan ahead.

You can purchase tickets for all shows mentioned on the Edinburgh Festival website.

READ EDINBURGH PREVIEWS HERE

Seven Questions With… Tony Law

August 3, 2015 by Becca Moody 3 Comments

Tony Law is an absurd comedian to say the least, bettering himself with each passing year and crafting majestical shows which in the past have included musical numbers, finger lasers and puppet displays. The shouty surrealist is bringing his latest hour of nonsense Frillemorphesis to the Edinburgh Festival and it looks set to be another brash, bizarre yet beautiful assault of the senses.

I asked Tony these seven questions to learn more about the man behind the madness…

1) Why is your comedy so strange?

It’s not my comedy. It belongs to the earth. And I’d hesitate to call it comedy. Normal to some?

2) Which instrument do you wish you could play?

The flesh tuba. I’ve never learnt to masturbate. It’s high time. And piano. Be a great help the piano. Could fill my shows up with less words.

3) What bores you most?

Myself. Listening to me droning on about tree houses and cylinders all time. No one wants that.

4) Where is your safe place?

Culverts. P47 thunderbolts. My family. Training with master Cho.

5) If you were to write a book, what would the subject be?

Walking through landscapes and whistling new songs that are gone for ever on the wind. Just about that sorta thing.

6) How do you clear your head?

I’m afraid that’s rather easy, I just breath through my mouth and away I go. Really rather ……

7) What do you want your legacy as a comedian to be?

Hardest working man in show business. Loads of money to pay all these bills I forgot about. So then I could concentrate on whatever it is that I do on floors.

TONY LAW IS BRINGING HIS SHOW ‘FRILLEMORPHESIS’ TO THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH…

Review: Tony Law – Enter The Tone Zone

October 14, 2014 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

Tony Law bounds onto the stage over an hour late, dressed in a black lycra catsuit and armed with a trombone. It’s what we have all learned to expect by now.

If you saw last year’s Tony Law show, Nonsense Overdrive, you might think that previous hour of material was relatively normal in relation to this one. There was shouting, brass instrument playing, beach ball throwing, plastic snake wielding, dancing, and even dreaded audience participation. Though the Tone Zone allegedly has no material and no plan, he certainly, and somewhat unbelievably, had absolute control over his audience who were hanging on to every whimsical word.

With the sound of a foghorn, Tony was off on a surreal adventure that spanned an array of absurd subject matter from viking quests to the death of a pet. And just as the insanity all got a bit too much, Tony would expertly change the pace with a reference to mainstream comedy such as Live at the Apollo or 8 out of 10 Cats, both of which this comic is slightly too weird for. With Apollo-worthy anecdotes about his beloved dog, Cartridge Davison, and his two trolls (human twins), Tony showed emotion, though he had to change his accent to suit this, naturally.

This, teamed with the strangest audience I have ever been a part of, made for a very intense comedy experience, or in other words: absolute chaos. Tony effortlessly dealt with challenges from a disheartened lady in the front row who “just didn’t get it,” and replied to her cries of “I just wanted to have a good night,” by explaining that she really should have done her research before booking tickets to see Tony Law of all people, which is fair enough. It is no surprise that the two complainers left during the interval, and it brought the rest of the audience together beautifully in a unified defiance.

You could be forgiven for assuming there could be no greater finale than that of last year: an interactive musical puppet show. But this time we were treated to a truly incredible performance, despite inevitable technical difficulties, including a slideshow and a trombone solo. Tony Law left in a Tony-Law-fashion: late for a train and clutching a deflating beach ball. It’s fair to say, the women on the front row would have absolutely despised the second half.

SEVEN QUESTIONS WITH TONY LAW

Tony Law

Stand & Deliver

September 17, 2014 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

In June 2014, a proposed magazine finally became a confirmed project as Stand & Deliver’s KickStarter campaign proved to be a huge success. Enough people (including myself) had pledged a donation towards the printing of the magazine’s first edition so the making and distributing of this beautiful product could get underway.

Stand & Deliver aims to fill the gap in the market for the comedy nerds of the world. It combines comedy, journalism, art and photography into one stunning package and I’m sure (well, I hope) that that is an exciting prospect for any reader of this site. One of the main reasons I supported this project was because the sheer amount of care, love and passion gone into it was painfully apparent. Seeing another person’s passion for what is most important to them in life will always, in turn, spark interest from me: I’m a big fan of hard work and effort.

A page dedicated to all of Stand & Deliver’s supporters

As well as this, the magazine promises contributions from many of my favourite comedians and artists including Tony Law and Dave Brown in the first edition. I even spotted an article from last month’s Comedian Of The Month, Gavin Webster. That article in particular was of great interest to me, and really summed up what Stand & Deliver Magazine seems to be about: doing things for the love of doing them, namely: for the love of comedy.

Not only is the content of Stand & Deliver magazine made with care and innovation, the physicality of it is also of magnificent quality. The paper is strong and there’s so much of it that it’s more of a book than a magazine, and who doesn’t love a good book? Having read the first edition from cover to cover, I have already learned so much about obscure things like foreign comedy circuits, opinions on hecklers and my favourite: the Machynlleth Comedy Festival.

And finally, I would like to applaud the people at Stand & Deliver for their insanely hard work and can’t wait for next month’s copy to arrive! You can pick up your copy of the magazine here.