Magners Masons Comedy Club: A Review (Northern Ireland in general)

Member Name: Danny McCrossan

Product:	Northern Ireland in general
Date:	11/02/09 (3 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Many

Disadvantages: None

Danny McCrossan loves to keep busy, not content with travelling the length and breath of both the UK and Ireland performing his unique brand of stand up comedy, Danny has thrown himself into writing. He's penned a radio sitcom for the BBC entitled "Final Vinyl", is currently developing a television sitcom for future UK broadcast (watch this space) he writes an online column for UK Broadsheet The Telegraph, has developed sketches and comedy pieces for Channel 4 and writes regular reviews on comedy clubs from the perspective of the comedian for a number of different culture loving websites.

So, when we bumped into Danny back in his home town Derry, Danny was all set to play the city's brand new club "The Magners Masons Comedy Club," We thought we'd pin him down and get him to write the very first review of this fledgling club for us, lucky us.

"Starting a new comedy club is a lot like sex, first you do it because you like it, then you find yourself doing it for other people who like it, but if you're any good at all, you'll end up doing it for money. Sadly though, sometimes it just doesn't work.

I've played numerous new clubs in my time and there's a multitude of things that can go wrong, the layout is all off beam, the PA system works like two tin cans and a length of string, the audience are unaccustomed to live comedy, unfriendly or plainly uninterested in anything other than the un-broadcasting television set. Yes, it's a tricky business if you don't know what you're doing, thankfully though, that's not the case for Masons, in fact, they make is look easy.

The Magners Masons Comedy Club is located upstairs in Masons Bar, Castle Street. The club is small and fairly intimate so it provides a great place to catch big acts in a little venue. In terms of layout, Bar Manager Billy Campbell has gone for the winning formula of closely nestled groups of stage-facing tables, each table seating up to five patrons right up to the foot of the stage. At the back of the room, larger tables are rowed to accommodate bigger groups of audience members, or those wishing to avoid some of that night's comic's critical observations. Each table is crowned with a small candle encased in red glass holder, which provides a nice warm glow radiating from each table, this is quite pleasing to the eye for any comic lucky enough to play this charming club.

The club's resident compere is seasoned MC professional Ruairi Campbell who, although much younger than most MC's currently warming up rooms, could go toe to toe with any of the big boys and hold his own. Ruairi expertly and irreverently worked the room up though the gears, keeping them laughing whilst all the while sustaining the status quo, always ready to remind any potential trouble makers who was boss.

Headliner that night was the sensational Fred Cooke who, quite frankly, has to be seen to be believed. Manic, genuine, musical, eccentric and tremendously funny, Fred has been playing clubs across Ireland for numerous years and is without doubt one of the brightest and funniest men on the Irish circuit today. The audience absolutely loved his mix of music, improvisation and insightful comedy and the intimacy of this club really worked beautifully with Fred's hilariously entertaining forty minutes.

Most of the credit for this new clubs success has to go to Ms Eavan King. Eavan has previously promoted and booked acts for Derry's Big Tickle festival and has a wealth of talent and know-how at her disposal. In choosing this venue and booking the subsequent performers, Eavan has developed a comedy club which I have no doubt will go from strength to strength. Where other potential clubs have tried and failed to make a success of things, Eavan has blended her knowledge of the industry, her love of comedy and her sheer intelligence to create a club where comedians will love to play and audience members will love being played to.

All comedy fans in the North West officially owe Eavan a drink, at least. This is one new comedy club that officially works and the city of Derry has something new to smile about."

Magners Masons Comedy Club runs on the first Thursday of every month. Admission £4. Arrive early to avoid disappointment.

For directions and further info: http://www.masonsbar.co.uk

Thanks to Danny McCrossan: www.myspace.com/dannymccrossan

Summary: A review of Masons Comedy Club Derry, by comedian Danny McCrossan