Fun with a grumpy young man

THE SECOND of the monthly comedy sessions at the Trestle Arts Base Theatre in St Albans got off to a good start on Saturday night.

The first act Rob and Skatz - a modern day smutty Laurel and Hardy pairing - are a music-based duo.

Hugely comical to look at, I wanted to like them more than I did but found myself a bit grossed-out by some of their seedier material. But the men in the audience seemed to love it.

The compere this time - Quincy - was a likable chap with a broad grin who drew audience members in to confess some interesting snippets from their lives which were often even more intriguing than what was happening on-stage.

I really wanted to know if the front-row people were actually wife-swappers or just having a joke at Quincy's expense. Similarly the couple who met on the Internet were very engaging and honest about how they got together.

However, I felt Quincy's energy sag a little from time to time unlike John Ryan, who compered last month's show so admirably.

But the main man of the evening was the engaging Jon Richardson whose low-key meanderings took us from his university shared-digs tales of woe to his curmudgeonly views on marriage and relationships.

Although only a twentysomething, Jon is an angry young man whose obsessive-compulsive disorder is clearly rampant. Widely regarded as a junior Victor Meldrew, he is stubborn and petty enough to try to provoke tailgating drivers by doggedly refusing them the space to overtake.

Once again, a splendid way to be taken out of yourself for an evening.

MARY BROSNAN