That’s the beauty of stand up: the ability to go off at tangents more often than sticking to the script.

Paul Furley

A surreal gig, but then what would you expect in Stroud?

Jongleurs on Tour periodically stops off in the People’s Democratic Republic, but Stroud’s no comedy hot bed and the quartet of comedians on offer had clearly never heard of it.

Equally as clear was the fact no-one had warned them what to expect.

Tangents

But then that’s the beauty of stand up: the ability to go off at tangents more often than sticking to the script and yet still leave an audience entertained.

“Don’t think this is a normal gig”, warned the second act Canadian Sean Collins.

It could not have been normal from the moment Collins became a target of the first act, the fast talking posh boy Michael McIntye, for making the balcony creak as he watched on, trying to get the audience vibe.

No escape

As the Subscription Rooms sadly were not packed out, Collins was the only person on the balcony and had no escape.

The poor table service waitress... had the last laugh though charging £2.40 for the beer.

Paul Furley

What he could not have predicted as he walked on stage with his drink in hand was that his only heckle would be from a woman who wanted a sup on his pint, but play along he did extracting every possible laugh out of the situation, before later ordering a fresh pint.

The poor table service waitress who had been the butt of much of Collins’ observational wit had the last laugh though charging £2.40 for the beer.

Highlight

Collins was truly the highlight of the line up which was compered by Dudley’s finest Sean Percival, a man who described his voice as “an accent, not a disability.”

Percival interacted well with the audience, but his political gags were dated in places - yes fox hunting is topical, but John Major and Edwina Currie are not.

Top billing

Top billing of the night went to Roger D, who felt the need to point out that despite being big and black he is a comedian and was not the doorman.

He claimed comedy was the only career path open to him.

Paul Furley

Having a Scottish mother and African father (or was it African mother and Scottish father?) he claimed comedy was the only career path open to him.

D was slick and funny, but lacked the spontaneity of what had gone before. There was no interaction with the audience and both the live feel, plus Stroud’s own surreal touch was lost to the extent that everyone could have been sat at home watching on TV.

Less than 10 minutes after the gig had finished D was changed and standing out on London Road with a suitcase, looking lost.

A fitting end to a uniquely Stroud evening.

Review by Paul Furley

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