FESTIVAL FAVES PICK UP 5-STAR EDINBURGH REVIEWS

With comedy showpiece, the Edinburgh Festival still in full swing it is great to see that plenty of acts within the 2010 Reading Comedy Festival are picking up rave reviews from comedy's most important reviewers. At www.chortle.co.uk Steve Bennett and his merry gang of reviewers have busily being seeing what's hot and what's not in live comedy. And quite rightly, one of the smash hit successes of last year's event FRISKY AND MANNISH are again picking up storming reviews, including this. Make sure you take the chance to see this show when it hits Reading on Wednesday 13 October.

CHORTLE REVIEW - STEVE BENNETT
"There ain’t no party like a F&M party! One of the breakout hits from last year’s fringe, this devilishly flamboyant duo are back for more of the same: inventive pop mash-ups and withering celebrity put-downs delivered in compellingly camp, condescending style. Second time around, and without the element of surprise, it’s easier to nitpick a few minor weaknesses, but this wild musical cabaret is just such a blast, that would be churlish. Surely no one could fail to have fun in this whirlwind of upbeat musical parody, driven by the divinely powerful presence of Lady Felicity Fitz-Frisky and Hansel Amadeus Mannish.

Well, I say that. The critics were divided last year, as the indulgently self-referential opening overture makes abundantly clear, with quotes from reviews both pro and anti. ‘Indulgently self-referential’ isn’t a criticism, by the way – lest that get into next year’s lyrics – as the duo’s supercilious on-stage vanity is what drives the comedy. The schoolma’amish manner of vocalist Frisky, resplendent in elegant basque with an eye-catching scarlet fancy perched atop her similarly vivid hair, uses her powerful, rangey voice to keep the rowdy room in check while Mannish, with his New Romantic hair and matching braided and glittery striped jacket, provides back-up vocals and nifty piano.

As last year, the theme here is educational, with the likes of JLS, Alicia Keys and Kelly Rowland all being berated for the grammatical slip-ups in their lyrics. Meanwhile we, the putative college students learn the basics of pop mechanics such as the ‘collision theory’ of how to put unlikely duets together or the hitherto secret inspirations of some of the biggest names in music.

This is all a ruse for the pair’s marvellous mash-ups, as inspired as anything Bill Bailey could come up with: Creep as a banging dancefloor filler, Shirley Bassey pairing up with Dizzee Rascal and the return of the old favourites Lily Allen and Noel Coward, this time singing Paula Abdul. In what other show will you see that?

Elsewhere Florence (of And The Machine fame) gets mocked with laser-guided accuracy, while the mischievous impersonation of Mark Morrison’s squeaky voice is instantly hilarious. Everything, however apparently bitchy, is however done with real affection; Frisky And Mannish clearly love pop – why else would they appropriate its glamorous excesses so thoroughly.

They’ve made no real progress since last year, but they don’t need to, since it was so good to start with. Returnees will presumably be more happy with more of the same – I certainly was – while the substantial number of F&M virgins, revealed in a straw poll at the top of the gig, will hopefully be blown away, too.

Frisky and Mannish’s show is, again, the most fun you can have on the Fringe without chemicals – and I daresay it’s even better with them…

Reading Comedy Festivals' Andi Osho, Stewart Lee, John Bishop and Tom Allen have all picked up 4-STAR Reviews. read them, and more here http://www.chortle.co.uk/about/2010/08/04/11498/edinburgh_fringe_reviews

WELSH WONDER RESCHEDULES HEXAGON DATE

Reading Comedy Festival and The Hexagon are disappointed to announce that due to filming commitments Rhod Gilbert has had to cancel part of his forthcoming autumn tour including his sold out show at The Hexagon on Sunday 17 October. However we are delighted to be able to reschedule this date for 24 January 2011.

Rhod Gilbert’s Reading show had sold out in super-quick time ahead of October’s Comedy Festival where he was due to perform his show ‘Rhod Gilbert and the cat that looked like Nicholas Lyndhurst’ for the third time in Reading in just one year – a year that saw him leap to comedy super stardom.

The Hexagon will be contacting each of the bookers to let them know about this postponement, but those wishing to claim a refund now can call the Reading Arts Box Office on 0118 960 6060 where one of our helpful team will process the refund.

Reading Comedy Festival kicks off on Friday 30 September and features dozens of the UK and Ireland’s finest comedy acts across 19 days. These include Sean Lock, Armstrong & Miller, Jenny Éclair, Stewart Lee, Tommy Tiernan, Ardal O’Hanlon, Andi Osho and much much more. So make sure you book your tickets early, and you’re your part.

OPEN MIC HEATS NOW FULL UP

Wow, you have all been ultra quick off the mark as all three Heats for the Best New Act of the Year competition are now completely full up! Thanks to all who have entered and apologies if you have not been lucky.

CALLING ALL BUDDING COMEDIANS

We are thrilled to announce the return of The Reading Comedy Festival New Act of The Year Competition. Yes we are back so if you think you’re funny and have got what it takes to be a stand-up comedian here is your chance to prove it.

This year we have teamed up with Highlight Comedy Club and will be hosting three heats at the Friar Street venue in September prior to the grand final at South Street on 8 October. Heats will be held on Wednesdays 8, 22 and 29 September at 8pm.

The competition is open to anyone over 18 regardless of experience all we ask is that your material is original and you keep to a maximum of 5 minutes. To register email charity.gordon@reading.gov.uk but be quick, places are already filling fast.

HEATS @ HIGHLIGHT COMEDY CLUB, Friar Street, Reading
Wednesday 8 September, 8pm
Wednesday 22 September, 8pm
Wednesday 29 September, 8pm

All the September heats at Highlight will be free entry so even if you’re not yet ready to take on Jimmy Carr at his own game make sure you don’t miss the chance to come along, cheer on your favourites and support the future of comedy.

And don't forget to book your tickets for the final at South Street. On Sale from this Thursday (5 August). http://tinyurl.com/34crtal

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READING COMEDY FESTIVAL IS GO


While the nations eyes seem fixed towards the gogglebox as World Cup fever sweeps the nation, the sneaky team behind-the-scenes at Reading Comedy Festival HQ have been busily adding to the programme of events for October’s festival of funny, and what a festival it looks like being!

Taking place between Thursday 30 September – Monday 18 October 2010 (funny dates for a festival in themselves), the Reading Comedy Festival has again attracted some of the biggest names from the comedy world to Berkshire.

Now in it’s sixth year, the festival continues to get bigger and bigger, and that shows little sign of stopping with this year’s event, which will be coming to The Hexagon, South Street Arts Centre, The Concert Hall and many other venues across Reading throughout October.

Tickets are selling fast, with both Sarah Millican shows, and both John Bishop shows selling out in super-quick time, and in the last couple of days Rhod Gilbert selling out too. So if you want to see the finest stars from across the comedy stratosphere like Sean Lock, Tommy Tiernan, Jimmy Carr, Jenni Eclair, Pete Firman and Felix Dexter perform in Reading this October, check out the WHAT'S ON section of this site now and make sure you and your friends don't miss out on any of the the fun in the festival this autumn!

BBC BACKS JOHN BISHOP FOR PRIMETIME SLOT

As The Hexagon impatiently awaits John Bishop's shows in this year's Comedy Festival it's an exciting time for 2010's runaway success as the BBC confirm they have ordered a six-part prime-time Saturday night show starring stand-up John Bishop.

Following a successful pilot, the half-hour show will feature a mix of stand-up, celebrity guests and members of the public talking about a different topic each week. Bishop is currently producing a series of animated rants about the World Cup for an iPhone app called John Bishop FC, as well as appearing as a regular panelist on Sky 1 sports quiz A League Of Their Own.

But he has found time in his busy schedule for two dates at The Hexagon on Tuesday 12 and Saturday 16 October. We hope you haven't missed out on tickets folks!! Full story on Chortle http://tinyurl.com/2ubbeks

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