One Touch Theatre, Eden Court, Inverness, 28 January 2011

THIS IS a tale of two Daniels. Or maybe a review in two halves, or two reviews bolted together, I’ll let you decide.

As Monty Python mused, many years ago in a song about Eric, the half a bee, “Is half a bee, philosophically, not a bee?” So is half a review not a review? None of this is making any sense, is it? [No – Ed.] I’ll start again.

Comedian Daniel Sloss (photo Steve Ullathorne)

It is a testimony to the rise in popularity of stand up in Inverness that last Friday night there were two comedy gigs performing simultaneously. Both were in dramatic contrast, but both featured a man called Daniel. I managed to take in all of Daniel Sloss’ performance at Eden Court’s OneTouch, and a good section of Daniel Downie’s show at Ceol Mor. More of Mr Downie later; first Mr Sloss.

Sloss took to the stage at Eden Court, in front of a near sell out audience, with the ease of a seasoned performer. His relaxed manner and gentle warmth are all the more surprising in a man who is so young he hasn’t started shaving properly. The 20 year old Sloss’ act oozes natural talent. After starting stand up when he was sixteen, when he had to be driven to gigs by his mum and dad, Sloss’ rise in the comedy circuit has been dramatic.

In four short years he has performed two sell out Fringe shows; the most recent, in last year’s Fringe. was titled My Generation and provided the bulk of the material for Friday night’s show.

A spot on Michael McIntyre’s TV show, Live at the Apollo, has launched his career into another level, as indeed it did for another Scottish comedian, Kevin Bridges. Sloss’ ability to engage with the audience led to a relaxed atmosphere that allowed the crowd to enjoy his rather gentle brand of humour. In common with most young comedians his material largely focussed on the sex life of the adolescent boy, embarrassing grandmothers and what it’s like to have a real girlfriend.

While the topics of his humour may be predictable, given his youth, his natural talent makes his story telling perfectly honed and a pleasure to listen to. The audience at the OneTouch were more than happy to be led on a comedic journey by this young imp and thoroughly enjoyed his musings on life. Sloss is clearly a comedian whose act is still in development, but there can be little doubt that, judging by this performance, we will be hearing a great deal more from this talented individual.

Sloss was ably supported  by the Geordie comedian Kai Humphries. Humphries clearly has considerable experience as an emcee and he bonded well with the well behaved Eden Court audience. His warm up act was peppered with the comedy club’s stock in trade “knob gags.” These Humphries delivered with skill, as he never once strayed across the line into obscenity, something that might have alienated the audience.

As soon as the lights went down on Daniel Sloss’s performance I headed over to the other comedy gig on that night in Inverness, at Ceol Mor. There, local comedian, Daniel Downie, was holding the first of what may well become a regular monthly comedy gig in the Highland capital. Downie performs under the banner of the Stand-Up-Stand-Out comedy club.

Inverness comedian Daniel Downie

The first event of this club was almost the victim of its own success as the Inverness pub was packed to capacity with revellers enjoying a Friday night on the town as well as some great stand up. Downie struggled manfully to keep order as he introduced a strong line up of comedians imported from the central belt. Headlining was the talented Keir McAllister who, even with a smart new jacket, always manages to walk on stage looking as if he woke up 20 minutes ago and found himself sleeping under a bush.

Despite his tousled appearance McAllister has a keen wit and, as well as his stand up shows, he has two Fringe plays to his name, starting out his playwriting career with Falling for Grace in 2006. McAllister is a name to look out for as he forges himself a place in the Scottish comedy scene.

Supporting Keir was Glasgow comedian Graham Mackie, who is a Scottish Comedian of the Year 2008 heat winner.

Although it was difficult to hear the comedians at times over the lager-fuelled audience, the night was a roaring success. Inverness certainly needs a small comedy club where big and small names can rub shoulders in an informal atmosphere. While venues like the Ironworks and Eden Court are doing a great job in bringing some of the best comedians in Britain to the Highland capital, there is also a need for a place where up and coming stand ups can perfect their art. Downie is working hard to provide that and, judging by the support he got on Friday night, Stan-Up-Stand-Out is on line for great success.

So that’s my tale of two Daniels. One performed at Eden Court while a polite audience listened in silence, the other had to contend with a packed and over excited pub crowd. Two gigs at two very different but equally important ends of the comedy spectrum and on the same night in Inverness, who’d have thought it?

© John Burns, 2011

Links

• Daniel Sloss
• Ceol-Mor