Friday 17th February - The Hull Blokes Present Love - A Night Of Comedy, Drama And Passion at Northern Theatre contd By Jane Foster

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Phone Call by Bernie Laverick and Gus Wilson revealed the true identity behind those infuriating automated calls, and also the culprit responsible for that crap music...and no, it's not Vivaldi! It's Not Unusual saw a certain Mr Jones explaining to his lawyer exactly what happened the night when he passed by her window...in song of course. Cue dramatic music, bad wigs and laughs all round, though I thought the sketch went on slightly too long and laboured the joke somewhat.

Parents Evening by Wayne Dewsbury was another send up of chav culture, with two teenage parents so irresponsible and inarticulate even they deserved to be lambasted on the front page of the Daily Mail (no, not the Hull one - I wouldn't wish that on anybody!) Some might say that chavs are becoming too often a target for satire now, but personally I haven't tired of it yet as I find them a perpetual source of amusement. Mike Jackson's Love Undying was another dramatic turn thrown into the comedy mix, featuring what seemed to be a confused old bag lady reliving the source of her present angst with the help of another one of Northern Theatre's talented female actors.

Her memories of wartime were lived out before us in a sketch of pain and pathos that didn't overdose on sentimentality. Space Invaders by Bernie Laverick and Gus Wilson was my personal favourite of the evening. I never thought I would see a computer game acted out live before my eyes...three of the Blokes manoeuvred and were exterminated in perfect time, and there was friction between them giving rise to the brilliant insult 'shut up you, your mam's a whore on Grand Theft Auto'. One of the more original sketches of the showcase.

Fifteen Love by Sean Wilson and Andy Hampel explored both technological and sexual frustration through the eyes of a teenage boy whose plans for self pleasuring are cruelly thwarted by a faulty DVD player. In the end he resorts to terrestrial TV which produces unexpected and amusing juxtapositions of sentences as he flicks channels. A play on words which reminded me very much of Ronnie Barker style humour, something which is unmistakably British yet which stands the test of time. However it was spoiled by the poor projection quality of the screen, and this part of the sketch went on for too long I thought, stretching the joke just a little too far.

Funny Bunnies, also by Sean Wilson and Andy Hampel featured a familiar scene, that of everyday office culture, rendered amusing by the surreal twist of all the staff being rabbits. Added to this the fact that they conversed in rhyme, which gave originality to the sketch. Again, very Ronnie Barker and a very British love of wordplay that we never seem to tire of. Some would say that that particular type of humour is old-fashioned but I personally feel it never really goes out of fashion, and is making a comeback in the way that 'familiar catchphrase' humour has in recent years.

Bernie Laverick's Cats and Kalashnikovs was definitely not for animal lovers, as it featured a cavewoman tearing open a (papier-mache) cat and eating it's raw innards (red liquorice laces, or at least I hope they were...). Great acting from Mark Pollard as the aforementioned woman, who seems to be becoming a master of the 'hangdog' expression in this and previous sketches!

Modern Love Is Rubbish by John Allbones was an interesting monologue about a man who is repeatedly unlucky in love, and is currently harbouring a crush on his doctor. His eventual assertion is that the only surefire way to be popular with the ladies is by becoming a serial killer on Death Row. Why? Because lots of marriage proposals come your way, of course! Thankfully however, he doesn't succumb to this temptation. This was a sketch not unlike those of Alan Bennett in its cosy, confessional style, or maybe because the character reminded me of Bennett himself when reading his own monologues. Well done once again to the Blokes and I look forward to their next outing in June.

Links to thisisUll articles about the Hull Blokes: opinions/newton/anthonyiannewtonreply.html opinions/newton/hampelreply.html opinions/newton/marktostevereply.html

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