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 Comedy Night Review - 29th January 2016

Stalwart Gonzo's, I believe we meet again! There's a lovely vibrant feeling of warmth that encompasses you as you enter this back-alley watering-hole. The staff here are always accommodating as the rhythmic beats pulse away the night with a clutter of conversation. Our choice of beverage is a mocha using only Stranger's finest coffee. Warming, smooth and delightful as always. But we are here on business! The Tome of Judgement in hand, let us begin what is Gonzo's Comedy Night!

It feels like far too long since we last sat down amid the crimson-and-candlelight gloom of perky Gonzo's Tea Room, gazing at the stage in collective hope of jokes, japes and jocularity. Fortunately, one of the premier events amid Norwich's growing comedic calendar is back - Friday 29th January 2016 saw local rising star Nelson T Gombakomba Junior joined by a host of familiar and fresh comic talent from every corner of Great Britain. Naturally, Mr White and Mr Mason attended to appraise the acts set to ensue - and after a previously resounding Christmas show, hopes were definitely high...
 

Our host for the evening was the evergreen Alexander Oliver, who took to presiding as Master of Ceremonies following his initial stint as such in December 2015. Mr Oliver was on remarkably strong form on the evening of 29th January, however, easily eclipsing his previous performance. Taking his penchant for quick-witted audience interaction to hitherto unseen heights, Alex confidently laid down his trademark humour, rich in innuendo, exasperated bluster and his long-standing rivalry with the loud Gonzo's Tea Room coffee machine. A resilient showing in the role of host, yet such was his degree of audience interaction that we ended up missing his own material - we hungered for his humour! 4/5 Stars.


Ah Alex, interactive and delightful as always! His temperament warming the room, slowly bringing the audience ever forward in accepting comedy into their hearts. Upon his opening there was a builder gentleman who decided to heckle - and Alex in all his quick-wittedness shut him down before any further comments could be made. With the audience on side Alex, brought forth some of his own material rather than just MC'ing, which was tremendously refreshing! 4/5 Stars.

Mr Cross... as you may remember, last time I had the "pleasurable" experience of enduring your comedic rant on life, which was to be honest disdainful and boring. So to hear your new works at January's event was, in all honesty, superb! I noted from my colleague that last time you had noted of our antics and it was wholeheartedly received! Your sense of dark humour and your analysis on relationships had me chuckling throughout. Your notes on when wedding dresses would be worn a second time was hilarious. The only thing I could add to this is BRING MORE OF THIS TO LIFE! And don't be scared to interact with the audience, your set has come on leaps and bounds! You have earned yourself 3.5/5 Stars!

The initial act of the evening was Ryan Cross, a returning regular without whom, we daresay, it simply wouldn't be Gonzo's Comedy Night. Notable about his set of the evening was the fact that his usual penchant for humour at the bleeding edge of black comedy seemed to have been toned down, instead replaced with much quipping about relationships and their complexities. It was refreshing to see that each of his jokes and the entirety of his material was fresh to our eyes and ears, yet the audience reaction was frequently muted. Mr Cross is improving, however, and his diligence certainly shows. 3/5 Stars.

The lovely lady Ciara. Alas, what's new... well, not the opening, which was the same leprosy joke as last time, and didn't start all too well. However, the note of your father running around shooting pigeons in a balaclava, spiking the interest with the IRA, was brilliant! Material heavy on political stance and the ineptness of the PM was interesting, but what got the laughs were the family anecdotes! 3/5 Stars for this performance - bring more anecdotes forward and don't be afraid to communicate with the audience.

Another returning face to the fray was Ciara Jack, whose material leaned on her experiences in both writing for BBC Radio Norfolk's comedy programming, as well as performing in 'Jack The Ripper - The Musical' in Norwich last autumn. Her set wove politics, feminism and highbrow class humour to well-paced effect. However, there was somewhat more consulting the notebook onstage than in previous performances we've witnessed, although her killer punchline regarding certain yellow fiends infesting popular culture ("If you don't know what a Minion is, it's basically a small yellow half-blind Joe Pasquale in dungarees...") was met with an eruption of laughter so collective and profound that Ciara herself almost seemed startled. 3.5/5 Stars.

Daniel Offen, a Londoner up in Norfolk... oh no! How will he cope? Well, to start with, a loud opening, and a plush bee? This man is seriously odd, and started with the audience on side. His rant on feminism and action figures was delightful... but alas, it took a turn for the worse. The political rants began and thus the audience began to wane. The jokes were not hitting the mark and when being signaled the set time was up, he carried on trying to win the audience back... repeatedly. Forgetting your set halfway through wasn't the greatest of outlooks either. Not really impressed. 2/5 Stars.

Hot on the heels of the previous act's satire and political musings, Daniel Offen roared onto the stage with impactful gusto, rousing the restless crowd from any stupor they may have been lost within. Tracing his influences to 1980s stand-up comics such as Ben Elton, there was also more than a hint of Ade Edmonson in his delivery and approach, with material that danced from politics and Thatcherism (which he confessed to being too young to have felt any direct impact from), through to puns and pokes at the absurdities of modern life. Although nothing truly stood out, Mr Offen demonstrates an aptitude for stand-up that seems eager to cut loose - I'd certainly welcome the chance to see him perform again. 3/5 Stars.

An interesting man is Jack Shanik. His dry sense of one-liners were short and to the point. Heralding from the northeast, his sense of humour was really "Oh dad, why did you say that?!"... and it had its moments where laughter could be heard. But resoundingly it was quite plain. Towards the end the jokes just got worse and the audience was starting to go and buy more drinks, maybe to scrape away the pain that was being bled through on stage. However, there were delightful notes of the north, but Mr Shanik, your one-liners are terrible. Bring a conversation to light with the audience and you will be a welcomed returning act. 2.5/5 Stars.

Oh me, oh my. Mr White likes to write - thus it stands to reason that Mr White likes wordplay, and this made watching Jack Shanik's performance a true delight. From reciting a tract of a Lewis Carroll classic in an impregnable Northern drawl - proclaiming it to be 'Alice In Sunderland' - Jack went on to zap out zingers including describing wearing a big fuzzy wig and spinning on the spot as a means to arouse himself as his 'Afro Dizzy Act'. More ingenious is the fact that Mr Shanik knows what he's doing and almost seems to welcome the occasional audience groan at a punchline - at one point he even turned to me during the performance and remarked, "It's not easy setting comedy back forty years, mate!" 4/5 Stars to this cheeky chap and his irrepressible punslaught!

The Pope is among us... just lacking the robes and hat. His slow building performance really hit a stride once the audience started laughing. His notes on life of "public school breeding villains" and the "struggles of being an adult when you're still a child at heart" had the room in resounding laughter. Short and to the point, Benedict Pope hit the mark every time, rounding off with a remark about "disarming a bomb with a raw lamb shank" - the room was lifted of the previous maniacal curse of the political gripe. 3.5/5 Stars. Please come back again - you, sir, will go far if you can deliver more material!

Benedict Pope is demonstrably clever. That said, he started somewhat flat and unremarkable in his Gonzo's performance, relating life in London to an audience he then lit up with but a single word. "Milk." Indeed, in chronicling his bizarre experiences with milk deliveries in his London home, Mr Pope turned a simple series of transactions into a hilarious rant about his experience with the milk company, which devolved into a fracas in which his argument - "Please stop sending me milk!" - was met with the counterargument of... well, being constantly sent milk. He also singlehandedly mustered the best quote of the entire evening, when he explained that the woman he had called responded, "But you can't cancel, because then THE MILKMAN WOULD BE SAD." 4/5 Stars!

The one the only MONTY BURNS! Mr Burns opened with a huge entrance, he immediately picked up on the previous heckler and killed him before anything was said. His remarks on Jehovah's Witnesses brought the room into near rapture! He related Robocop to Jesus, and his antics when meeting dates for the first time and asking point blank "have you made a sex tape yet? Because this is as good as your gonna look..." Noting his wife's comments "my wife says that I have boundary issues... well she didn't say that but she wrote it in her diary!", he then treated us to his remarks upon airbrushed models and how men will sleep with anything - "what's the point, we will still sleep with you!" - but ultimately finishing with how his wife always plays to win at Monopoly... and when she does win, screams "Eat my p***y motherf****r", which brought the house down. 4.5/5 Stars for an amazing performance. A great headliner to arrive at Gonzo's!

Hilarity hit a high point with the arrival of Monty Burns to the stage, who seethed into being before us like a furious Scottish Tony Stark. Screaming at the audience until they capitulated, he held the room rapt with his dark wit and familial angst. Tabulating the 'filth' he witnesses on children's TV and the innuendoes he finds there, Mr Burns then swept the acrid cloak of his comedy across the bar, citing an attending couple as resembling a girl group songstress shacked up with Shrek, before shouting that the well-coiffed barman was a protagonist from Twilight. Agitated and animated, Monty hit the mark as the night's strongest comedian by far - no small feat amid such talented peers. 4.5/5 Stars!

Find Monty On Facebook here! Monty Burns Comedy
Follow Him on Twitter! @Montysrants 

The Great Nelson once again presented himself to a stunning audience, laughs of the differences between countries and the contrast of old among newer material was a sly move but it worked. Speaking of his "head" teacher in kind, there were notes of an African doctor coming to England, but the NHS cuts hitting them forcing him to leave. His comments on "all white people looking the same" brought a round of laughs and he even noted "there were many Canadians in the bar". But the finisher were his notes on "if women ruled the world there would be no nuclear bombs... just long text messages", which killed the audience. Not the strongest act of Nelson's, but certainly held his own. 3.5/5 Stars.

The one, the only, the almighty Nelson T Gombakomba Junior rounded off a fine night of comedy in the fine city. Nelson's excitement and zeal were electric - he had just got back from a previous night at London's Comedy Store in which he received one of the strongest positive responses of his career. Nonetheless, on home turf, Nelson was applauded as a local hero, yet his comedy of the night was surprisingly off-the-cuff, seeking input among the audience for 'fun facts' to round off his established wit ("There's a new thing called the 'after-sex selfie', but in Norfolk it's just called a 'family portrait'..."). It's always a pleasure to see Nelson perform, and Gonzo's Tea Room remains his comedic thinktank, in which fresh jokes are blended, poured and refined. 3.5/5 Stars!

All in all a solid night of comedic delights - a fine line up, and some great moments. Nights in Gonzo's are truly amazing and shouldn't be missed just because it's not on Prince of Wales Road! Drop in, try the rum or let the staff make you a cocktail of merit, you will not be disappointed.

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White Mason Reviews appreciates the talent and co-operation of Viktoria DeRoy Photography in chronicling the capers of the evening! Viktoria is a local photographer who frequently attends - and dutifully snaps! - each monthly Gonzo's Comedy Night, with an ever-growing portfolio besides.

White Mason Reviews was approached by Monty Burns to add links to his social media in his review segment - we are happy to accommodate other such promotional requests from featured or forthcoming acts. These requests do not detract from White Mason Reviews' unbiased critiques and are strictly conducted on a not-for-profit basis.

A Moment With Nelson T Gombakomba Jnr - A White Mason Comedian Interview

It's no secret that both Mr White and The Teege like a jolly good chuckle, and our predilection for appraising local comedic talent has seen us fortunate enough to cross paths, shake hands and exchange pleasantries with numerous artisans at various levels of the comedic craft - from fresh faces to established acts. If you've attended the ever-entertaining comedy nights of Gonzo's Tea Room, as we have on more than one occasion, you'll be familiar with the fine fellow upon whom 2016's first interview focuses. Kind Teege, might you elucidate...?

So the great Nelson T Gombakomba Junior decided to grace us with his presence one afternoon in the lovely Playhouse Bar. Dressed in his smart attire, his smile was beaming as always as he shook our hands and settled for our talk. Coffee was his choice of beverage - always a good start, as we here at White Mason Reviews believe, given our love of blends and beans of all kinds.

In today's article we will be getting to know Nelson more fully. Coming from Zimbabwe, his childhood is described as one shaped by religious schools and with strict upbringing - and therefore, he always wanted to get away and see what the outside world had to offer. When moving to the UK at 17, the difference he saw enticed him to stay.

Nelson is - as one might expect from an individual who frequently bares his soul on stage - cheerfully candid about his journey, relating its nuances with fond grins and relaxed, easy-going gestures. "I always remember the mountains surrounding Mutare," he notes, referring to the eastern Zimbabwean city in which he grew up. "Going to Catholic schools there always felt quite insular and conservative - it gave me so many questions, and I never really believed a lot of the things I was told."

As a consequence, Nelson's youth was formed by an inquisitiveness that, it would seem, could not be satiated by the circumstances surrounding him. One gets the impression that the more he was told how and what to think, the less inclined he felt to think it. As such, the marriage of a liberated mind and the freedom of the stage made his dream of being a comedian all the more profound - yet even then, he admits to us, it was some time after his arrival in Britain before he elected to make that dream a reality.

These days, Nelson has his mainstay here in Norwich - which we will touch on later - but always finds time to travel to London for some new and exciting venues. After a successful debut at the famous London Comedy Store, he is returning to perform again in due course, and he has also performed in King of the Gong.

Nelson stands a very understated man, holding high reserves and not pushing his place the world, but instead understanding where he's from and what he wants to achieve. With high goals, but none too unreachable, it's nice to know Nelson holds Norwich as a firm mainstay and wouldn't forget us should he become more famous than he already is! "Even if I became a big star, I wouldn't forget Norwich and I would still like to keep the Gonzo's comedy night running," he remarks.

In the process of both preparing Norwich's forthcoming Gonzo's Comedy Night - scheduled 29th January - as well as chuckling nervously whenever quizzed about his big return to London's prestigious Comedy Store, it's apparent that Nelson's nimble mind never stops whirring. "Gonzo's can be a brutal venue if you're not prepared - and in London, it can be worse, because you're up against some guys, they might've been performing 20 years or more," he explains. "The secret I've learned is to just enjoy the moment. If an act goes on stage setting him or herself up - 'Is this my big night? Is this when I get signed? Is this when I get noticed?' - you'll just tense up."

What's surprising about Nelson's craft is that he has only been performing as a comedian since as recently as March 2014 - yet less than two years later, is performing in London, is active in the Norwich circuit and is instrumental in arranging each month's gig at Gonzo's. "It's about what you tell yourself before you get on stage," he reveals. "Get excited. Be in the moment - don't be a perfectionist. I guess it's similar in a lot of the arts... people want to be famous, want to be recognised. As natural as that is, if you give in to that too much, it stops your personal growth... slows your progress. I used to get hooked on that buzz, on building up a big hype in the room and enjoying it afterwards, but it just fades like..." Nelson pauses, grinning broadly at his own analogy to come. "Like a bad one night stand, where you're just there afterwards like... why did I do that?! But if you get rid of that need for validation, it gives you a lot more freedom."

The man on stage is as much as the man who sits before us, humble in his words and never over-extending the conversation. Yet with each gig's destination differing in terms of diversity, he informs us of the technique that he as a British-African comedian may break out when the need arises.

"I always have to get rid of the elephant in the room in less multicultural cities, you know? I'm black, yes - and...?" Using comedy to break that wall lets Nelson's style of relaxed narrative flow through the audience... not forgetting the insatiable Zimbabwean twang mixed with his hilarious cockney impersonation, which is wonderful!

 Prejudice and comedy are often bedfellows, and although we're in the 21st Century and most audiences are tolerant in their perspectives, it's fair to say that your average Norwich audience, although diverse, would be nowhere near the cultural blend and fusion one might expect of a gig in Britain's capital, for example.  "The jokes I use to ease that tension, they're one-liners and stereotypes - they break the ice," Nelson says. "I wouldn't base my whole performance around it - using your heritage for a joke only works once per audience, you know? But what I love about Gonzo's is that it's become where I test and develop new material, find out what works, and then take the best of it to London. Because the events are monthly, it means I'm constantly working on new material."

Indeed, we've had the pleasure of watching Nelson's comedic arsenal grow - but how would he describe his approach? "Conversational," he replies, grinning. "I've never liked the whole... set-up, set-up, punchline, you know? If there's anything I could say to upcoming acts, it's just to be brutally honest with yourself. Like... if you're the 'funny friend' in your social circle, that's great - but does that mean you're a comedian? It's completely different on stage. You have to factor in attention spans, you have to keep yourself in line by not overreaching for fame or attention... it's about self-awareness and knowing your limits. With things we do at Gonzo's, like the audience participation, the Two Minute Touchdown where people can get on stage and perform for two minutes, things like that... we're encouraging new talent. But you have to work with the audience - you can't blame them if they're not laughing at your material, because ultimately that's your job to get right!"

So who of the great comics of the globe have inspired our interviewee most? Nelson mentions a few big names - notable ones, like Chris Rock, Billy Connolly and Jimmy Carr. Nelson's profound love of the conversational style of delivery clearly comes true in his expressions towards other comics.

His remarks on previous performances at Gonzo's are noted towards everyone developing, and whenever an old act steps forth on stage there is something new, bigger and better about them. "One thing I'm hoping we'll see more of at Gonzo's is female comedians, although that's not me trying to be inclusive just for the sake of being inclusive," Nelson tells us. "Although it's a tough thing to get into, my experiences have shown me that Gonzo's is a pretty safe place to try fresh material."

Nelson's notions are interesting, and we'll of course evaluate the meritous hysterics of any and all who take to the stage - for such is the White Mason Reviews way. But taking Nelson's journey into consideration, what would he define as his proudest onstage moment? "Definitely performing at the London Comedy Store," he answers, cheerfully fizzing with excitement. "The fact I got invited back just makes that even sweeter! London comedy clubs are so much more of a target audience. In Norwich, even with comedy nights, you're performing to a mix of people, especially in Gonzo's - some people at our comedy nights are just out for a night out, but we're happy they join in our fun. But in London? If someone's watching you at the Comedy Store, it's because they've come out just to see stand up comedy. The stakes get higher, but also, there's less of a line to cross with the audience as a result. It does your material justice and it lets you refine it at a really high level."

Impressive successes surround Nelson as he advances his art, but we all know even the greatest performers have overcome some false starts. Nelson agrees as he candidly relates his earlier material. "I used to do a routine about some fat girl I supposedly dated - that was at my third ever set, at The Birdcage in Norwich," he recounts. "It went down well, but it was during the times of me... figuring out my niche, you know? But I watched footage back a year later, and although I was getting laughs, I felt really uncomfortable watching it back. It felt like I was taking cheap shots, even though the girl I was talking about was completely fictional. It made sense at the time, but it's not part of how I do comedy today."

Nelson's comedic nature, along with that beaming smile, brings a delight to any show. His beginnings touched on the stereotypical, addressing his race and the vices and virtues that one may encounter. Upon development, his relaxed style, never rushing into a pun, but letting it settle across the audience, brings air to the conversational style he embodies. But the question on my lips was towards the darker side of comedy - those hecklers. Nelson's smile widens at this point in time, and to my question - "How do you prepare for them?" - he has a very simple answer. "I don't..." he laughs. "I just live in the moment and respond with something spontaneous." He continues laughing... Nelson goes on to explain how he has always had the natural urge for comedy.

We relax and have another round of drinks, and the conversation swings to previous comedic encounters, we refer to Mr Alexander Oliver and his crazed frantic life. I talk about the time at a gig when he turned to me and enquired to what I might be doing on my phone in the middle of his set... my reply was simple. "Reviewing YOU!" Suffice to say his remarks quickly redirected. Then Nelson and I turn our talk to Ryan Cross, another performer, and this writer's former loathing of his works (now en route to being rectified). Further, we realign the discussion to if, on Nelson's first performance, he could have some advice from someone more experienced... what would he say?

"Don't touch the Frankie Boyle-esque offensive jokes first - you may start a reputation for just offending people," Nelson advises. "That is never good! Offending the audience is always a bad start. If they are on your side they are much more likely to interact with your joke, and not have a discussion among themselves." We went on to discuss examples of the tragic woes that were, to which Nelson adds, "Don't get subdued by a bad night - enjoy every moment you have onstage, good or bad. Either way, it's experience."

So what's next for Nelson? Beyond his excitement for the Gonzo's Comedy Night on 29th January - "It's gonna be crazy!" - this zesty Zimbabwean is approaching the coming year with a mixture of gusto and groundedness. "I got approached in London for a corporate gig, a pretty huge set, but I turned it down - I know I'm not ready yet," Nelson outlines. "But even if I did make it big, and played London and other places a lot more, Norwich will always be home. Gonzo's Comedy Nights are my babies, and I want to help make everyone who comes out glad they did, and see growth month on month."

With a degree in Law and a relaxed outlook on life, there's no doubt that if Nelson's making things happen, he's doing it for us - and with us. Already in talks with both the acts and the proprietors of his favourite venue to get events livestreamed worldwide, he's keen to see what he and his contemporaries do being documented. "Right now I'm continuing to work with acts, figuring out how best to position them in the line-up based on their comedy styles," Nelson sums up. "I'm really happy with how things are going - we've got new and repeat acts, and those who get invited back I'm giving breathing room, so they can continue refining their material and bring us new laughs. There are a lot of new faces to Norwich coming in January and beyond, and we're going to continue keeping it fresh and diverse."

Every show of Nelson's we have had the pleasure of reviewing has seen his comedy never fall below a 4/5 star rating. This also stands true of this afternoon spent with him - the sparkle this man can bring to a somewhat dull rainy Norwich afternoon revived us with a new intensity. He has a small segment in the London Comedy Store, prior to this month's Gonzo's, which is coming on 28th January. Not one to be missed! But for now, Nelson, we thank you and await what's to come on our next visit to Gonzos's Comedy Night on 29th January.

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The Teege and Mr White signing off!

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!

Gonzo's Tea Room December Comedy Night - The White Mason Review!

On 4th December 2015, Mr White & Mr Mason were invited to a wondrous event by Mr Nelson T Gombakomba Jr. The venue? Gonzos Tea Room. The occasion? Comedy night! What else were we to do... but to REVIEW?!

The famous Gonzo - namesake of the venue!

Gonzos Tea room is a well known place in the Fine City, having shirked more unsavoury reputations garnered from its previous antics as Kartel and Havana (yes... those days!). Now it has an interesting atmosphere of hipstery hysteria crossed with a wannabe geekiness. On a Friday night, such as that of our visit, the music could be said to be over-compensating for what could be a good atmosphere of everyone enjoying conversation -- but it seemed to to get even louder when more voices filled the room. Honestly, learn to let people talk, not so they're sitting 30 centimetres away from one another and they have to shout to be heard.

The Teege™ and I part ways on this particular outlook. Not only am I a fan of the funk and soul music that Gonzos so readily proffers, but I'm also not that against the volume of said tuneage. Indeed, I've a review for a certain OTHER venue in Norwich, recently opened, which plays music at a thundrous level far less conducive to decent conversation than the brilliance of Gonzos' own!

Gonzos Comedy Nights, usually held once a month, have become a highlight of our own social calendar, so it's a privilege to review one. Showcasing up and coming comedic talent from around the country, no two events are ever the same -- yet a menagerie of established favourites frequently tread the boards to lay down the laughs. The event of 4th December did not disappoint! 

Music aside, the comedy was to start at 8PM. After meeting friends and having some drinks, the
night began rather interestingly... some squeaky teen jumped up on stage and gathered everyone's attention.

Introducing stand-up comic and Gonzos Comedy Night mainstay Mr Alexander Oliver. Myself and Mr White have listened to Alex's trials and tribulations previously and found him to be fantastically funny. Some of the things this guy goes through are unbelievable! Engaging with the crowd, Alexander set about lightening the mood of the room, then a rather large heckler opened up... at which point Alex shut him down using his wife! Some light-hearted jokes flowed, the room was ready. The audience interest was there, but down-key -- as for Alex? Honestly, the only way to describe this guy is a Pikachu on speed! His back and forth with the audience was interesting, it started to lose some of the audience half way and at the back of the room the bar was completely lost to drinks and hubbub. Eventually with some specific interaction they came back, and Alex introduced the first act. Teege's Rating 3.5/5 Fed a little too much off the audience -- but when hearing what this guy has been through, you can do nothing but laugh!


Alexander Oliver has played numerous times at Gonzos, and each of his performances seems to build on the last. This particular event marked his first time as the venue's Master of Ceremonies, and he actively engaged with the audience to build up some excitement. To describe his comedy style is simple, yet nuanced -- Alexander Oliver is, essentially, exasperatedly disappointed in people at large, and wants you to know it. His humour runs the gamut from acute self-loathing ("If I was a Pokemon, I'd be the one nobody wanted to catch!") to wry audience interactivity, and his material is consistently fresh and humorous -- as well as astonishingly, starkly biographical.

The only caveat? I feel like he was waiting for the audience, and the audience were waiting for him. Alexander -- your material is sublime, and if the audience seem silent, it's only because we are eager to hear it! 3.5/5  from Mr White -- Always a pleasure when Mr Oliver takes the stage!

Now lets see who's first up?

Alan Wycherly -- Odd jokes, started off coldly, didn't really see past the first couple of tables as far as audience interaction goes. The back of the room drifted off, the jokes weren't particularly funny -- there were a couple of quips about being a father and life living with kids, which was okay, and there were a couple of murmurs from the crowd. This was short and sweet, nothing special but could possibly bear to listen to him again if I had to... Teege's Rating 2/5 - Could do better, maybe find how big the audience is and you might entertain them... other than those five girls around a guy.

 Alan's performance had a few highlights, most notably the foibles of the dating game and the peculiarities of life in the Millennial generation. That said, if you asked me to conjure my favourite of his quips, I'd have a hard time recalling any. The gentleman's got some talent, yet it seems as if it's waiting to reach its full potential. I'm eager to see what he can concoct in the future. 2/5 from Mr White.

Next on the billing for the evening was Ryan Cross. I'd previously heard some of his material, and have seen him perform two or three times before with the same stuff. Now -- this guy, at the last Gonzos gig I saw him at, had the audacity to open with a dead baby joke. The room went silent. Again, this time he opened with a race joke, and again the room went silent. This is how impressed I was... "Yaaaawwwwnnnnnn." It's the same material as last time, with a couple of new bits. The audience was lost to their own conversation. The Teege's Rating -1/5 Disappear off this planet you Frankie Boyle wannabe. (Other words were whispered between me and Mr White on the night, but you get the gist).

This was, I believe, my fifth time seeing Mr Cross in action -- I've seen him several times at Gonzos, and once at Aroma. I've a little more time for wry, dry, cynical humour with deadpan delivery than my esteemed colleague The Teege, and was impressed to see Ryan administering some fresh material to the masses. Though I'm scarcely an expert in the field, I feel what holds him back is that much of his material is anecdotal. For example, his act that night crescendoed in tales regarding a recent trip to Germany, which had apparently culminated in his encounters with individuals best described as with... strong and unpopular political views. He recited how he and his entourage of travelling companions had implored one another to leave the company of said individuals as soon as possible. He then admitted that that story wasn't particularly funny. With respect, sir -- why are you telling the audience of a comedy club it, then? 2/5 from Mr White.

Next up was James Farmer. Neither me or Mr White had heard this gentlemen before, so our ears were pricked. This guy captured the audience with his family-centred humor. He was upbeat and energetic, he worked with the audience, lost them in the middle, but towards the end of his set had me and Mr White holding onto our sides. Honestly a contender for the performance of the night! The Teege's Rating 3.5/5 - Good, maybe learn to open up a little more and capture the back of the audience as well as you do the front.

Mr Farmer was witty, quick with quips and smart in his delivery. Upon learning that an audience member's name was 'Cleopatra', he staunchly refused to believe her and declared her instead to simply be shouting random 1990s girl group names at him. Later during his set, he returned to Cleopatra, who responded to her name with "Coming atcha!" -- James, like lightning, regarded her comeback as a lewd sexual innuendo and declared that he was shortly to begin dodging unsavoury bodily fluids in some slow-mo Matrix sequence.

He also read out some Facebook statuses, which is actually more common among modern comedians than you might think -- but his delivery, cheeky appraisals of each and final punchline of "HASHTAG DEAD NAN!" was the very comedic tincture that The Teege has chronicled as the source of our much-tickled ribs. 4/5 from Mr White. Best audience interaction and among the best newcomers!

A new favourite of ours to take the stage was Tom Appleton, the punk rocking Norfolk original. His first words? "F**k the mic!" -- he left that there, running into the middle of the audience and using his booming voice to hold to room's attention for the entirety of the performance. His jokes were insane; varied from the locality to life itself. There wasn't a single point where he didn't stop moving! The hair was used as a medium, the 8-inch spikes atop this man's head! The audience were engaging! They wanted more! But alas his set came abruptly to a stop. Why?! Dammit! This was after a year out of the comedic light; honestly man, do not disappear again! The Teege's Rating 4/5 - Do more you spiky headed madman! BRING THIS MAN BACK!

Tom Appleton utilised to full effect the old adage, "Always under-promise and over-deliver". We had the pleasure of meeting him before his set, and a more humble and convivial fellow you could seldom hope to meet, spiketacular hair and angry plaid trousers or no. On stage, though? Imagine Ade Edmonson's performance as Viv from The Young Ones turned up to eleven, injected with the fury of The Sex Pistols and the mania of a ten-year-old after five cans of Monster. A complete transformation that held the room rapt -- Tom swarmed from the stage into the room and back again, sending peals of laughter at his antics with every quip and step. Highlights included his poetry about Justin Bieber (which comprised of him simply screaming the word "WHYYYYY?!" at the ceiling for almost ten seconds straight and then slumping to his knees), to his 'dark comedy joke' finish -- why was Hitler a terrible athlete? Because he couldn't even finish a race!

"It's positive, it's a good thing, he DIDN'T finish a race!" Tom hooted as the crowd howled with laughter and sighed with guilt at the sordid humour it entailed. 
Magnificent talent - 5/5 from Mr White! 

Gbemi Olapdieo was next -- friend of the orchestrator of Gonzos comedy nights, Nelson T Gombakomba Jr. This guy was odd... prior to his set, he kept wandering around all evening, laughing hysterically and then running through a door. What the deuce, man?! On stage, his jokes were far too long-winded, and the only one that got a laugh was him holding up a stick, saying something about it being a Nigerian selfie stick. This was his third performance and I would probably suggest you stay at home for the next one. At least you're not like the next guy, so I suppose you are tolerable. The Teege's Rating 2/5 - Seriously WTF man?

It's apparent to me that The Teege enjoyed Gbemi's performance somewhat markedly less than I! His cheery demeanour and sense of vulnerability was, to me, somewhat endearing, and his humour was actually somewhat clever, being based almost entirely on entrenched First World predilections to diminish the status of other nations. What do I mean by this? Nigeria, the gentleman's native nation, is actually one of Africa's most prosperous and advanced economies. However, knowing that most outside of said continent don't know/care about this fact, Gbemi uses it to fuel his comedy, turning prejudices we don't know we have on their heads. Thus, the Nigerian Selfie Stick™ -- in actuality, just a tree branch -- represents his subtle nod to us all, his statement implying that we find it funny because we think it could actually happen, and he finds THAT hilarious in its own right, and is showing us such. More clever than a simple stick pun would first appear, no? 3.5/5 from Mr White.
 
 
 
The next 'act'? I suppose I should mention this guy -- Fedor Tot... more like Fedor Tw@t. He did nothing but insult the audience. The room ignored him, as I have in this review. I won't even give him a rating. Done. The Teege's Rating -- Two of the comedians had to remove him from the stage... 'nuff said.
 


Permit me elaboration on The Teege's scornful, though not undeserved, appraisal. Fedor Tot was a comic proclaiming himself of Serbian heritage. Small and scruffy, it initially seemed he'd play the underdog card to his advantage, and engaged in wordplay I found charming -- variations of his surname and common parlances, such as "There's tit for tat, but there's never any tit for Tot."

Not the audience's cup of tea, but we soldiered on. And for whatever reason, Mr Tot's act devolved from a mildly structured series of repeated introductions followed by puns, into a bizarre socio-political rant. Taking the recent decision for Great Britain to engage in Syrian bombing as the centrifuge around which his befuddling blather span, Tot brought the UK's historically recorded bombing of Serbia into the fray -- yet his delivery was one of blaming and shaming rather than any modicum of humour.. Silence soon became cringing as audience members exchanged genuinely pained glances. What, had we been the ones flying the planes?!

British people are fully aware of their nation's abject atrocities as historically committed -- and smart comics know how to leverage that into good humour. Standing and shambolically throwing abuse at paying audience members under the vaguest pretense of comedy is another matter entirely -- to say nothing of actually starting arguments with members of the crowd! Tot was eventually convinced to leave the stage, on around the fifth attempt, by his superior comedic peers. His departure garnered his biggest applause.

Matching both Mr Mason's own succinct surmising and Mr Tot's own credibility as a comic, I deem his festival of embarrassments worthy of a fat and spectacular zero.

Finally -- and luckily -- a hero rose to claim back the night. Presenting the one the only Nelson T Gombakomba Junior the Second -- the main reason, besides seeing friends, that we show up to this gig! This man is full of stories, and their levels are phenomenal. He can work an audience, handle the hecklers and even has a couple of awards. Nelson has won Beat the Frog in the northeast and King Gong in London. He even won the UEA's talent show. With simple one-liners, to race, politics, life and current happenings, if there is a topic, Nelson can make a joke about it. He literally killed the audience with a one-liner about Oscar Pistorious... maybe they are the wrong words for me to use...? But this King of Zimbabwe (and the only black guy in Norwich, as he believes) stole the night. The Teege's Rating 4.5/5 - Should have got better seats. But someone stole my damn corner!

Nelson exemplifies rapid wit turned to good comedy. Riding the wave of Tot's disaster, he turned the entire night around, and uplifted the tone of the entire room, as he effortlessly opened his act by remarking on current affairs with concise aplomb: "Britain's decided we're gonna be bombing more than the last act!"

The room erupted into peals of mirth, and when the unruly folk at the bar escalated conversations above him, Nelson affixed them with a soft smile and uttered, "Could you guys just shut the f**k up?", garnering cheers and applause from the crowd in his doing so -- because this crowd WANTED to hear Nelson's magic. I've had the pleasure of watching Nelson's performances for almost half a year now, every month, and this was by far his strongest showing. Fresh material, witty improv, hysterical insistence on never impersonating the Prime Minister unless he's also miming interacting with a pig in a certain manner... Nelson's both approachable and a giant of the stage, and for him to have turned a divebomb of a prior act into a sensational stand-up finish, replete with politics, prejudices and countless jokes about chicken, is representative of the rising star in our midst he truly is. 5/5 from Mr White -- Nelson was at his finest form as ever I've seen him, and I already eagerly await the next gig!

So, big guy - to summarise?
 

Overall, the comedy was okay, some of the performers were new to it and some were old hands -- but my comedians of the the night had to be Tom and Nelson! They both stole the show and had the audience in bits, a close runner-up was James Farmer... but honestly Nelson, if you're reading this and you even consider the thought of bringing Tot the Tw@t back, words will be had!

The Teege's Overall Rating 4/5 - Bring the good ones back!

Gonzos - https://www.facebook.com/clubkartel/
Nelson - https://www.facebook.com/nellyG14
Alexander - https://www.facebook.com/AlexanderrofledaLoliver?fref=tl_fr_box
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