February in Norwich Comedy Crypt - Mr White's Overview

Comedy! You may have noticed that we - Mr Mason and I of White Mason Reviews, that is - have taken it upon ourselves to bring our scrutinising eyes upon the comedic jaunts gracing Norwich on more than one occasion. Indeed, although it is Gonzo's Comedy Night that most frequently tickles our funny-bones, it would be remiss to not turn our attention to another venue of japes rising in our midst.

Your humble scribe speaks of the Comedy Crypt - a monthly event in which the rising starlets of the UK comic scene pile into a dank medieval cellar with a variety of inebriated people. It's significantly more fun - and significantly less sinister - than it sounds.

Furthermore, it is with a heavy heart that one must chronicle that alternative happenstances and an altogether busy week (Aroma, rum, pirates, girls dressed as pirates) saw Mr Mason and I unable to attend our beloved Gonzo's Comedy Night for February. Did you attend? We hope you did, and we hope it went well.

Either way, with local hotshot Nelson T Gombakomba Junior taking the stage as headliner for the Comedy Crypt of 18th February 2016 - flanked by a roster of familiar and unknown talent besides - it was apparent that some White Mason Reviews perspective was in order. With Mr Mason alternatively engaged, it fell to Mr White alone - ever your ebon-and-crimson chronicler - to slink into the crypt like an eel into a catflap. Except unlike an eel that has just travelled through a catflap, I did not flounder about the place and then embarrassingly die - no no, I instead evaluated the evening's shenanigans for later tabulation, just like eels don't, due to their lack of writing appendages and general disinclination to hold an analytical mindset regarding the performing arts.

However! You know the rules! For a full comedy review, both Mr Mason and Mr White need be present, that our contrasting analysis capabilities be brought to bear. Given that only I was present, this shall be but an overview of proceedings, as utterly enjoyable as they were, in earnest hope of attending again come March, alongside the erstwhile Teege.

Yes, it was that good - in fact, the TL;DR version may as well be, well done everyone, this was an excellent showing of comedic talent.

The evening's events were conveyed by the Master of Ceremonies, Ross Downes. Mr Downes is a familiar face to White Mason eyes, having frequently performed at Gonzo's Comedy Nights - in which he waxes lyrical on relationship stereotypes and the bitterness of divorce. However, it was delightful to discover that Ross actually excels in the role of MC, interacting vividly and confidently with the audience, and holding the attention of the room with considerable regard for both genuinely funny one-liners and a good grasp of timing and pacing, ensuring each act gets their fair share.

The first act of the night was also a familiar face - indeed, February's Comedy Crypt was opened by Adele Cliff, whose frequent Gonzo's Comedy Night performances are backed by her trusty notebook o' puns. Her performance here was a similar story, entailing garrulous cringe-puns administered with cheery joie de vivre, alongside her habit of walking into the audience with leading questions about shared interests, ponderously analysing her notebook all the while. I've previously described her performances as 'weaponised awkwardness', and this audience was pretty receptive to her wordplay. Adele clearly loves what she does, and has honed a fine set, although we're eager to see what else she can make happen - more puns, more evolution of her stage persona, even more of the wry improv she's capable of throwing out when events deviate from her plans.

Also taking the stage on the night of 18th February was Mustard Xav, probably the most 'nice guy' comedian you'll ever meet - although not at the expense of wit. Indeed, he instead guided the audience on a pleasant and comical voyage through European cultural idioms, culminating in a surprisingly raucous sing-song about a girl he met in which any naughty rhyming words were substituted at the last second with something innocuous. It worked far more effectively than I can even make it sound - I'd enjoy seeing another performance!

When Tom Masters took the stage, it was as replacement for an act that had cancelled, yet he handled the situation admirably, delivering dry, deadpan and intellectual humour - though not so lofty in the brain-box as to alienate the audience. Instead, he clinched a fine balance, and even leant on the fourth wall in admitting that he had written lots of notes on his hand but, reading them back, now had no idea what most of them meant.

In fact, the talent remained consistently strong throughout the evening, with a variety of comedy styles that flowed in a complementary way, each of which being eagerly met by the audience. Catherine Bohart played on sexuality and gender stereotypes to tremendous effect, telling tales of how whenever she came out of the closet to people, they would double-check if she was sure due to her conventionally feminine personal style - a fine framing of prejudices brought to light with lightning Irish wit.

And when Tom Mayhew took the stage? Well, if Adele Cliff represents weaponised awkwardness, Mr Mayhew is a warhead of mass anxiety! "I had a girlfriend once," he remarked, courting coos from the audience, before looking around sullenly and adding, "...That was a joke."

Tom was a delight, flatly delivering a roster of riotously funny anecdotes about his vaguely misanthropic lifestyle, after which he selected a 'new friend' from the audience - a jocular drunkard who was just happy to be in the room - and after confounding him with a series of social obligations for friendship, dismissed him again to applause. Indeed, this succinct roundup does not do his set credit, and I look forward to attending future performances.

Similarly on fine form was Al Wycherley, another frequent Gonzo's comic who has seriously boosted his comedic chops since we saw him last. Soaring from local humour - a wise opener indeed - to a hysterical set about the musician Adele, Mr Wycherley has evidently hit his stride, and was one of the evening's strongest performers - no small praise, given he was among such a talented bunch. We love seeing comics we thought we knew surprising us in fantastic new ways, and you can be certain White Mason Reviews will keep a close eye on this one.

Nelson was a comedic onslaught, with
every joke captivating the crowd.

But let's be honest. Let's look to our headliner, Mr Nelson T Gombakomba Junior - and let's put our damn hands together, because the big man with the plan utterly stole the show in one of the strongest performances I've ever had pleasure to witness him administer. Dressed in a hitherto-unseen casual style - a contrast from his suited and booted stage persona - Nelson wove established hits and brand new jokes into the perfect formula. Not a single punchline eluded the audience's peals of mirth, and his hilarious cultural jabs - where trips to a urinal become 'handling industrial machinery' and where anecdotes about school nurses take darkly priestly turns - were met with resounding approval.

Nelson rounded off a sensational night of excellent performers, each of whom left a tangible and electric buzz in the air. In fact, the Comedy Crypt at large is one to watch if you're after a fine evening in the Fine City - it's not as easy to find as Gonzo's Comedy Night, perhaps, but trust the sidestreets... and you'll be led to a cavern of comedic capers well worth your attention. Be assured that White Mason Reviews will be back in force!

Gonzo's Christmas Comedy Night 2015 - Mr White Recaps

With the festive season behind us, let's discuss one of its highlights! Although an event usually held but once a month, December 2015 has seen a festive Christmas Comedy Night grace Norwich's unique and popular Gonzos Tea Room, hot on the heels of the rambunctious antics of the last. Although both myself and Mr Mason had the great pleasure of reviewing the prior occasion, the Christmas Comedy Night of 16th December 2015 clashed with each of our bustling lives -- as this time of year is prone to do.

Nonetheless, your humble scribe afforded himself the opportunity to sojourn to the grand venue and partake of its comedic delights in part upon the very night of December 16th. Therefore, I proffer in this article an overview, if you will, of the events as witnessed, together with insights garnered from some of the featured talent. It'd be remiss of us to conduct a review on the basis of only a part of the event as witnessed -- and without The Teege's input, the very dualistic nature of White Mason Reviews would be missing in action. A snapshot I provide, then, for your salubrious delectation.

Nelson on fine form

Gonzo's Christmas Comedy Night welcomed a sweep of comedians -- both those new to its stage, and those familiar with the venue. Indeed, the charismatic Master of Ceremonies and Gonzos mainstay, Mr Nelson T Gombakomba Jnr, was on-hand to administer his own unique brand of quick wit, wry observational comedy and outrageous remarks about life at large -- and joining him amid familiar faces 'neath the white glare of the spotlight were Alexander Oliver, Adele Cliff and Ryan Cross.

Ah yes... Mr Ryan Cross. He's a stalwart face in Norwich's comedy circuit, making regular appearances at Gonzos. It was during his set that your humble writer arrived on the scene, taking my seat among the patrons as Mr Cross conducted his works. It pleases me to tabulate that Ryan was on excellent form that night -- though his material as to my ear was often familiar, it resounded to yowls of laughter and appreciation to newcomers. Moreover, his newer material -- ever courting controversy, touring such topics as Syria and Fallout 4, as well as the myriad mysteries of human sexuality -- was both dryly delivered and proficiently paced.

However, Ryan's performance of the night really stood out through his hitherto-unknown-to-me talent for improvisational comedy, as a discussion with a couple in the audience regarding the differences between homosexual and heterosexual pairings finally culminated in his railroading the comical discussion back to his material with the exacting and deliberate wording, "When a couple, one of whom is male and the other is female, has sex -- which they are free to do, or not do, with whoever they choose to..."

Applause! And when he began citing White Mason Reviews' appraisal of his previous December performance to round up his act? Why, one was delighted, terrified and flattered in equal measure -- particularly in how he converted an unfavourable review into an observational dig at the pervasive freedom we all have to, essentially, be more or less unaccountable for our actions, thanks to social media. Nonetheless, this was Ryan Cross as strong as ever I've seen him, and it's apparent that his persistence and ambition are paying off. We look forward to what he will bring to future events -- and The Teege, when I related Mr Cross's performance to him after said gig, is similarly impressed. "He's stepped up and it sounds like he's improving. I'm actually excited to see him perform again!"

Other familiar acts of the evening were met with similarly appreciative responses from the crowd. Alexander Oliver, rising star on the British comedy circuit and frequent Gonzo's Comedy Night contributor, gave a much more assured performance on the night, incorporating audience interaction with his consistently hilarious one-liners ("Physically I'm 22, but mentally I feel more like two 11-year-olds stuck together..."). Speaking to your jocular scribe after his performance, Mr Oliver revealed that he had leant less on audience reaction than his previous appearance at Gonzos, and by easing his mindset, it's apparent that he opened up fresh opportunities for off-the-cuff humour that are otherwise challenging to find in such a complex gigging environment as this particular venue's L-shaped room. Indeed, he held the entire audience rapt for the duration of his performance, and we heartily enjoyed his combination of twisted tales, quick quips and addled despondency with modern life.

Adele Cliff in action

Adele Cliff last came to Norwich armed with a notebook, from which she proclaimed wafty prose about lovelorn elbow-bumping and queried audience members about their likes and dislikes -- their responses leading into wordplay and puns. It was a similar story for the gig of 16th December, flecked with some sparky ad-hoc antics. Although a simulacrum of sorts, her on-stage persona would seem, if anything, a concentrated interpretation of her genuine personality. One gets the impression that Ms Cliff would be a lot more content with the world if it featured more people giving her biscuits.

Such is not to diminish her intellect, that is -- upon prefixing my approach for a White Mason Reviews interview with a hearty handshake and a cheerful greeting ("Hello, Tony From The Internet!"), Adele responded to my appraisal of her comedic style as 'weaponised awkwardness' with enthusiastic agreement. "What intrigues me about the feedback that I get is that... some of what I do, it's not a million miles from what a lot of today's male acts are doing," she noted. "But it's nothing like most of the female acts. So I get told that I'm the only woman doing this style of comedy, which puts me in this really unique position." She fizzes with enthusiasm as she relates the nuances of her craft, and it's a sentiment shared with her peers within the room on any Gonzo's Comedy Night -- the talent is here because it wants to be here.

Indeed, Alexander Oliver's post-show discussions hinged on enthusing about the next gig in town. That said, he demonstrates the kind of urgency to improve that defines most of the great comics of our time, to such a degree that one often has to reassure him that he's doing fantastically well. As the room thrummed in the post-show buzz, that's exactly what main man Nelson did, praising Alexander's audience interactivity, before confiding in me his plans for the future. "2016 is gonna be big," he grinned, visibly excited as plans percolated in his rapid mind. "January 29th!"

The coming year looks grand indeed for Gonzo's Comedy Nights, which has now established a troupe of familiar headliners who each bring a different slant to a night's chucklesome endeavours. Yet fresh acts, both local and national, continue to grace the stage in ways that lace intrigue for the year to come -- and White Mason Reviews looks forward to a comical cornucopia in the coming months!