So Kate Copstick came and saw my show, and it was a very fun night. i like Kate’s enthusiasm about the festival; and i felt, when she was there, like i should try and do the show the way i wanted to do it. All throughout the festival, I’ve wanted the audience to be playful, and slightly joyous, so that when i drop the emotional bomb at the end, they feel a part of the narrative. My last five minutes won’t finish with a laugh unless the audience is sort of calm.
So I went to the green room, and prepared a show that was more relaxed, i moved some bits around, added some new stuff i’d NEVER done on stage before, and once on stage, it all fell into place. The changes I made were so almost basic, but necessary, like discovering penicillin. I stopped pushing. I warmed up the crowd, let them in, then twisted them around a bit. It was like holding hands and dancing together. I was excited.
Afterward, the show felt buzzy to me, my head was whirling afterward, i felt like i’d found its narrative and the audience seemed challenged and willing to go with me. I actually shook hands with audience members as they left, older folk who’d seen me on the Hamilton’s lunchtime show. they were beaming. I felt like I’d made my set accessible. That’s always been my greatest challenge as a comic.
I’ve posted the Scotsman’s review. It’s good. And Scotsgay gave me 5. I’m sort of relieved, even the gays like me!
xx