Review: Jo Caulfield’s Comedy Collective - The Stand, Edinburgh
Panel shows tend to be criticised as cheap, safe and uninspiring on TV, but there’s a greater sense of risk-taking to the live format, not least as a flabby hour of parlour games is required for the 25-minute recording. Hosted by radio producer Richard Melvin and with guests Jo Caulfield, Keir McAllister and Graeme Thomas, the show eschewed complexity in favour of rounds that audiences would be familiar with. The opener, “Beatles or Stones?”, was indicative of a need for further tinkering – the comics got caught between quickfire “honest” replies and using the set-ups for proper gags. More successful was the overlong “I Would Rather …”, in which they had an interval to prepare their reasons for not wishing to be a vampire, Glaswegian, comedian and so on, with a looser remit to jump in when they could.
Irrespective of its teething problems, it was a bold, enjoyable and inclusive semi-shambles, with some compelling guests lined up over the coming month. What’s more, there was still time tonight for Jay Lafferty to present a grotesque Bridezilla character, Joe Heenan to flirt with tension and disappointment as a “slightly dangerous stuntman” doing decidedly naff stunts, and witty New York muso Lach to meander into a lusty song about drinking with his mother.
RATING: ***