Okay we all know that the credit crunch is on and everyone is looking to get value for money theses days, and company’s are offering good deals all over but has there ever been a better deal than this?  I doubt it!!

After an all too long absence Sheila and I returned to Edinburgh’s Stand Comedy Club on 21 June for the Sunday Laugh in and for the entry price of £5-00, or an unbelievable £1-00 for members like us, six, yes six, comedians and a compere well I ask you.

The man in charge for the night was 6ft 5in Glaswegian Scott Agnew. He has come on leaps and bounds since we first say him a couple of years ago and he soon took control of the club as he got the good sized crowd warmed up and ready for the jam packed bill to follow. Agnew has an engaging style and it is little wonder his reputation is burgeoning.

Opening act Michael Adams was a new name to us, but one that I am keen to see again. He quickly was into his material and had some wicked stuff and a pleasing delivery style. He hit the right note with the punters too soon interacting with them and much as delivering his set. Certainly I will be watching his career with interest.

Jim Park was next on the bill and had a completely different style. Armed with a clipboard he fired into a series of random, usually surreal questions that he often had to answer himself as understandably no one answered his posers. I’m not convinced that his style was well received by the majority of the audience, but he certainly went down a treat with a few.

After the first interval, Kevin O’Boyle an Northern Irishman who does a lot of work in and around Edinburgh, a personable chappy with some good stuff to entertain. O’Boyle restored sanity to the proceedings with a well delivered set and had the crowd with him almost from the off. 

Nick Johnstone was an ‘extra’ on the bill with a short set. This Australian was a new name again to us and while he started well with a very different opening and had some good stuff strangely did not captivate the crowd as he probably deserved too. Maybe it was just not his night, but I feel he deserved better.

Closing the second segment was Glasgow based, Irish born Elaine Malcolmson. This was the second time we had seen Elaine and the second time we had been impressed. She has a deadpan style and some excellent gags in her locker. Some one-liners, others more developed. Some times one may wonder if she was happy at her job as she seldom cracks a smile, the same cannot be said for the crowd though, most of whom were well appreciative of a nicely written, constructed and delivered set. I will never think of a certain Swedish furniture store in the same light again!!

Following the second interval, prize draw and dealing with a complaint from London students on the front row that there was not enough movement from the acts, Agnew introduced the headliner, the bundle of energy, manic humour and total mayhem that is Phil Nicol. He is a comic you just have to experience. It is almost impossible to describe a Nicol set in words. Funny? No!! Hilarious. Pacey? No!! Frantic. Controlled? No Way!! Manic doesn’t get close. Worth seeing? Absolutely. The man has talent to spare and even if some of the material has been seen before by us, well we do see him whenever he is in the area, quality stuff bears more that one airing and this set was better than good. Phil is unique and long may he continue to deliver the goods that he has done for years. If the London students were worried about lack of movement earlier well he more than redressed the balance.

Look out for Agnew, O’Neill Malcolmson and Nicol during Fringe 2009 in August amid a myriad of other quality comedy through out the city.

Thanks again to Tommy Sheppard and his entire crew for another great night and rest assured we’ll be back, and you should too.