REVIEW

SUNDAY NIGHT COMEDY, WEYMOUTH PAVILION

AUDIENCE members who had seen what happened last time a comedy headliner cancelled, were left waiting in nervous anticipation of flying drinks as host Tom Glover announced the sad news James Acaster would be the second star not to make it down to Weymouth Pavilion’s comedy night.

Thankfully, in true professional form, Glover pulled through to ensure another well-known act could fill in and, making light of the situation, revealed that Canadian-born Tony Law would be the replacement act of the night.

Before that, Glover laid down the ground rules of holding on to pints firmly and introduced the first comedy act of the night, John Robins, onto the stage. Setting off with an obvious observation of the quarter-full theatre, John quickly moved on to the topic of lads’ drinking culture, growing older and the discovery of men getting thrush. Though falling flat at times, Robins managed to gag his way back to a rip-roaring finish that led the path for the next act, and probably the best of the evening.

Pavilion returnee Luke Honnoraty, best known for supporting Russell Kane and Matt Richardson, upped the level of entertainment with his self-deprecating and anecdotal humour. Rounds of applause were awarded for his tales of 3am ice-cream feasts and shame over being confused with a bouncy castle salesman at a child's birthday party. Honnoraty had the audience in the palm of his hand throughout the set, a power that was definitely lost in the last act.

TV star Tony Law, known from shows such as Have I Got News For You, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and 8 Out of 10 Cats, performed the unexpected, leaving the audience with mixed emotions throughout.

Surreal and quite often improvised, Law’s off-the-wall comedy was perhaps lost on the Weymouth audience who were at times laughing out of nervousness as opposed to merriment. Still, by the end of the set many were won over by his wackiness and, with that, Tony was off to drive back home in his much talked-about Citroen Picasso Xsara.

RACHEL LILY