Confederacy of Dunces at the Betsey Trotwood

Confederacy of Dunces at the Betsey Trotwood

19 September, 2008
by: Greavsie123

First impressions can mean everything or nothing at all. If the compere stand-up bill were a footballer they would be the 'water-carrier', the glue that holds the team, or in this case the evening, together. The unsung heroes of the night, they receive few of the accolades but are safe in the knowledge that if they were to abandon the constrictions of their role then all hell would break loose, for, to continue the football analogy, the saying goes that you can't win a game in the first five minutes, but you can certainly lose it.

Unfortunately for the Confederacy of Dunces, Deborah Sabapathy had no intention of slipping quietly into the shadows of the cosy venue underneath the Betsey Trotwood pub in Farringdon and letting her well-established acts do the talking. As the Circle Line rumbled comfortingly underneath, Sabapathy tore off her shackles to marshall proceedings with the subtlety of a neon pink hearse and the wit of an electrocuted mouse. Nervous from the start, her insecurity spread quickly to an embarrassed audience of no more than 20, culminating in an excruciatingly long-winded and downbeat monologue in the second-half of the performance that left me worrying for her state of mind.

It was a shame, because her performance dominated and undermined what was otherwise an impressive line-up, and highlighted just how uncomfortable an experience stand-up can be when the tone is wrong.

First to drink from Sabapathy's poisoned chalice was the elegant Nat Luurtsema. Instantly likeable, with a natural detachment in her delivery and her humour, she is a class act. Having seen her perform before, it seemed clear (and understandable) that she felt uncomfortable among an audience who were still feeling their way, and the mutual distrust was evident in the lack of reception for some excellent offbeat jokes.

Stuart Hudson offered a total change of tack. Looking like something of a cross between Jonathan Creek and WWF wrestler The Undertaker, Hudson's in-act persona takes the label of 'outsider' to another level, with his repertoire ranging from stalking to murder. When he got it right he was, though, as funny as he was disturbing.

Steve Hall was next, via a cringing musical introduction from Sabapathy. With a friendly face and some warm, familial humour, Hall was the highlight of the night. It was nice to laugh without agenda, as Hall's description of his (Jewish) father's inexplicable fondness for Nazi salutes accompanied by the name of a minor TV celebrity must have stirred similarly eccentric personal memories throughout the audience.

When I say that I wished that the evening had ended on Hall's pleasant reminiscing, it is no slur to Ava Vidal. Vidal is an imposing, black former prison guard and single-mother, and her act is brimming with personality. Extremely laid-back, Vidal's speech is peppered confidently with sarcasm and an all-inclusiveness that makes the audience feel like they are in a personal discussion with her. She dealt, somewhat predictably, with issues of race and abuse, at times with a tongue that bordered on being uncomfortably vicious, but was enjoyable nonetheless.

With tweaking - a little more genuine laughter and a little less uncomfortable silence -  the Confederacy of Dunces will be a cracking night out.


To look at some other good comedy venues in London, check out our list of Top Ten Small Comedy Clubs.

Greavsie123