Off The Kerb Roadshow (page 37)
Drams 2
Venue Pleasance Cavern - tickets from Pleasance Courtyard (33)
Address 60 The Pleasance
With four decent comedians on one bill - all doing substantial routines - The Off the Kerb Roadshow is excellent value for money. It's mostly the sort of stand-up you can find at any comedy club, but done to an above average standard. There's nothing groundbreaking here, but it's a nice way to end an evening.

Laid back on what he likes to call "alcohol", Jason 'Jay' John Whitehead makes a most amiable compere. A lot of stand-up comedians will pick on audience members (which is why the front row at a comedy gig is reserved for extroverts). Jay is a welcome contrast to this. He involves the audience - but makes them feel at home. The result is that unlike most of the late night comedy around, Off the Kerb is a relaxed show.

Shappi Khorsandi didn't quite connect with the audience on the night we saw. However there was good material in her act, and I expect that it will improve dramatically once she's settled in properly.

Mark Felgate is an uncannily good ventriloquist, and the best act here. He describes himself as the product of secret genetic experiments involving Chris Evans, Eric Morecambe and Janet Street Porter. So I am unsure as to where he got his hilarious talents from.

Angie McEvoy is perhaps the weakest link here. Even so she has a plesantly entertaining routine, is probably better given a livelier crowd, and would probably go down a storm with a hen party. Runs 1-27 Aug (not 6th) at 11pm (12:30). Tickets 7-9, 12-16, 19-23 Aug: £8 (£7), 10-11, 17-18, 24-27 Aug: £9 (£8).
� Daniel Winterstein, 5th August 2001