Preview March 11

The hotly-anticipated XFM Stand-Up Comedy Show (LOL Productions) has another great line-up in store for us this month. Stand-up comedy is swiftly becoming established as one of the most popular performance genres of our time – a process that really took off in the 80s, and shows no signs of abating. Its mainstream entertainment value is confirmed, time and again, by the astounding turn-outs for arena-shows by crowd-pleasers, like Michael McIntyre. Yet, as the likes of Stewart Lee, Richard Herring, and Mark Thomas demonstrate, it still has the potential to be a ‘dangerous’, challenging, highly exciting, powerful, anti-establishment, even ground-breaking genre of performance – with a keenly provocative edge, that whets itself on the most topical of targets. Then there’s the delightfully playful, like ‘performance poet’ Tim Key, and punster Tim Vine; and the ‘indie’ branch, including Josie Long and David O’Doherty. Stand-up is a constantly-evolving form of performance, that allows for a high degree of flexibility and variety.

Nick Doody’s comedy is hard-hitting, irreverent, sharp and politically astute. He’s worked with Mark Thomas, Armando Iannucci, and Bill Hicks. Early on in his career, he supported Bill Hicks on the latter’s final tour of the UK, as requested by the man himself – a remarkable testament of Doody’s unique talent. If further proof were needed, this can be found in his active participation on the circuit, radio-shows, TV-shows, and more recently his experimentation with cross-media formats (‘Bigipedia’ is a comedy radio-show modelled on Wikipedia and internet-surfing, parodying net-based features, such as pop-ups and hyperlinks). Nick Doody’s stand-up routines frequently include songs, intermingling topical material with light-hearted silliness, deftly picking out and underlining the ridiculous.

Ben Norris gained experience working as a TV-warm-up comedian, eventually appearing on our screens on programmes such as Mock the Week and Never Mind the Buzzcocks, and various other quiz shows. He’s entirely at ease on stage, with the confident control and ‘laid back charm of a Jazz saxophonist’ (The Stage), even when improvising – indeed, much in the manner of a jazz-musician. An undercurrent of acerbic and commonsensical-wit-with-a-twist runs through his observations on the everyday and his own personal experiences.

Carey Marx has seemingly effortlessly made the transition to international acclaim, and in 2009, his stand-up show ‘Caryness’ was awarded the prize for ‘Best International Show’ at the New Zealand Comedy Festival. Described as ‘a bit like Peter Pan’s evil twin’ by the New Zealand Herald, Marx tempers the deadpan approach with a cheekily engaging smile and a quirky streak, winning the audience over. Occasional political commentary typically sits side by side with smutty jokes, a juxtaposition that he skilfully coordinates. He has previously worked with Nick Doody on the ‘Bigipedia’ series.

Laugh Out Loud’s March offering (19th and 20th, at the Oracle Conference Centre, Dolmen Resort Hotel, Qawra) promises a balance of easygoing fun and entertainment, sharp satire, and perceptive observational comedy that should strike a note with everyone.

For more information about this event please visit www.laughoutloud.com.mt or call hotline 9942 5265. Tickets may be purchased from selected outlets or online via PayPal where tickets may be collected one hour prior to the show. Don’t miss it; tickets for this event sell out fast!’

The Sunday Times 13.03.11

by Krista Bonello Rutter Giappone