Beyond Our Kennel: Innovative stand-up comic poetry
Friday 22 May 2009
The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen [Map]
A man, a mandoline, a table, a mike, and lots and lots of fun! That just about sums
up an evening with John Hegley.
Friday night at the Lemon Tree saw a good crowd turn up to listen to this comical
stand-up poet. The poems were witty, many about dogs and many about Luton. Hegley
opened with a wonderful song about the empty chairs right in front of the stage,
and had the audience eating from his hand from those first notes. There was a suitably
funny can-can about his French grandmother, a salute to those wearing glasses, poems
about his brother-in-law, his dog, an animal A to H (did we ever get past the hamster?)
and beloved Luton. Funny how things that seem mundane can be dead funny. The humour
was intelligent and never relied on being vulgar as with so many modern comedians.
Hegley was at ease with his audience, improvised with flair and knew how to pace
his show. It was enjoyed by an audience of ages varying from 8 to 80 and there was
something for everyone.
Next time you see this name pop up... make time to go and see Hegley; he's well-worth
the ticket and you will laugh, be silly and very very merry. Top show.
Pauline de Koning
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