I went to the Jongleurs Comedy Club in my hometown last night for a friend’s birthday. We were treated to three comedians for our money’s worth: a guy whose jokes were based around the fact he was Welsh and Jewish, another guy who looked and sounded like Phil Jupitus (and was just as unfunny), and an ex-alcoholic comedian who joked about his impoverished upbringing and violent Father.
The Phil Jupitus look-alike noticed our table weren’t laughing very much at his jokes, so proceeded to refer to us as the ‘Christian table'; supposedly referring to our prudishness. This religious stereotype doesn’t stand up to scrutiny when you consider the vast numbers of young Christians who enjoy a joke like everyone else. At the interval I noted that of the six friends at my table, five actually were church going young Christians. So he got it right - we were the ‘Christian table’. But that’s not why we weren’t laughing ‘Mr Phil Jupitus wannabe’; you just weren’t funny.
Live stand up seems to involve the most controversial jokes, covering topics such as Nazism, paedophilia, disabled persons, and homophobia. Topics that even the most talented comedians struggle to make light of.
I laughed a few times, but not enough to warrant my £17 ticket. Comedians who make it on to TV are the best of the best - I think I’ll stick to watching the big names on the box in future.
