REVIEW: Student comedy night “Planet of the Japes”

Setting any event up for students is daring. Will they take it seriously? Will they listen? Will they even turn up? Add a pub into the mix and that will probably sway them. And given University of Salford graduates Tom Short and Sam Smith were launching a comedy night, on September 17th, nothing was meant to be taken seriously.

Nevertheless, I was holding my breath and desperately crossing my fingers for the comedy duo when, after door opening time was 7:30pm, it had reached 8:30 and the only people in The Crescent?s small function room was the comedians performing and me and my plus one and I was there on a reviewing job. Fortunately seats soon filled up, some bums on seats belonging to students, the main target audience, and they certainly made the right choice in turning up.

Still fairly new to the professional comedy circuit themselves, Sam and Tom, who gigged in Edinburgh this summer for ComedySportsUK are keen to offer budding comedians a platform to test material, gain confidence and learn to deal with the occasional heckle, all while receiving handy tips and advice about breaking into the industry and being watched by people who already successfully make a living from making people laugh. With The Crescent pub in Salford being opposite the main university campus, Sam and Tom believe it?s a great opportunity for students, who can have up to five minutes performing time in a open mic style.

Instantly likeable in a ?bloke from the pub? kind of way, Freddy Quinne drove up from Preston and warmed the crowd up nicely with jokes about loneliness, how checking out a hanging basket the way you would a woman is a definite sign of ageing (not so gracefully) and a hilarious tale of how he experienced pooing a butterfly at Leeds Fest. Intrigued? Check him out on twitter@FreddyQuinne!

After an intermission- aka dash to the bar- it was time for two more novice comics. First up wasTom Little who?s body language while performing, though exaggerated on purpose, I personally found a bit overkill and the definition of awkward, with him not even making eye contact or glancing at the audience when he delivered his punch line let along the build up to a joke. But body language aside, he put a funny and unexpected spin on the what?s black and white and red all over gags and I was reminded how these Planet of the Japes nights are perfect for start up comedians, with the intimate and none judgmental setting of The Crescent.

Sam competed the event to make sure their wasn?t a lull in the laughter before lively Will Hutchby performed. He was oozing with energy meaning his five minute set seemed a bit rushed as he was telling his jokes, so much so that you almost couldn?t keep up. Most of his jokes were on the theme of being an only child but his Gollum impression was bang on, meaning the gags that ensued based on the crazed hobbit more than a few laughs.

It was professional comedian Ben Schofield who stole the show though as you might expect, having been in the industry professionally since 2001 and done gigs abroad to the military. Introducing himself saying ?today alone I?ve had three Jesuses, two Gandalfs and a Chewbacca?, referring to his wild appearance with a hint of hobo with his long gingery hair and beard, instantly won the small crowd over. His gags and anecdotes were intellectual while being easy to relate to and effortless with his magical montage mocking the mess that is the modern British Press standing out as being side splittingly funny. Too get in on Ben Schofield?s jokes follow him on Twitter @BenSchofield78.

Whether it?s to support up and coming comedy, your fellow students or to have a go on stage yourself, it?s worth checking these new fortnightly comedy nights. Click here for details on the installment of Planet of the Japes.

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