On a Wednesday last November Dublin’s Comedy Cellar featured an evening of exclusively female comedy. The line-up comprised character comedy from Pom Boyd, Sue Collins and Anne Lillis, stand-up from Tara Flynn, Kathleen O’Rourke and Priscilla Robinson, and improvisation from Michelle Read, Sue and Tara. I hosted. Such was the response to this mammoth night of booby mirth I got on the blower straight away next morning and before you could say, ‘hey let’s put on a show!’ we had a four night booking in The Helix, DCU. Funny Girls was born.
Since then we’ve done three short runs in Bewley’s and stints in An Draíocht, Blanchardstown Town, and The Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire. In the process we’ve slimmed down the line-up, sharpened up the show and begun to build a following. Though I say so myself, it’s a topper of a show. We’ll be in Dolan’s Warehouse, Limerick on Thurdays, July 8th, in Whelan’s on September 16th, 17th and 18th as part of the MCD/Bulmers Dublin Comedy Festival, and back in The Pavilion Theatre on October 15th and 16th. We’re waiting to confirm Autumn dates in The Model Arts Centre, Sligo, The Mermaid, Bray, and An Draíocht, aris. Watch this space.
I last wrote one of these columns a year ago. Looking back I see I happily predicted that the comedy series Sue Collins and I had been commissioned to develop for RTE would be on the telly by now. Alas it’s not, have you noticed? Ah feck it, that’s how these things go: ha ha ha – I can be philosophical about it now. We’ve still got a project in the pipeline; maybe one day, who knows? I don’t.
In the meantime, may I recommend a new comedy series that’s part of RTE’s summer schedule: Kath and Kim. (I’ve a friend who’s a fan, so I’ve seen the DVD of the first series.) It’s from Oz, where it has, by all accounts, taken the place by storm (Kylie Minogue allegedly wants a guest part in the new series). It’s a joyfully funny sitcom set around the core characters of a suburban mother and daughter: quiet heightened, the character interplay is superb, as are the loopy plot lines. One note: the first episode is wee bit weak. Stick with it though, it’s worth it, the creator/performers Jane Turner and Gina Riley seem to be having so much fun: envy.
When our comedy tv plans collapsed I did the logical thing and started writing a novel. Just got an e-mail there from a publisher looking for another 50,000 words. Words come in units of 10,000 in the novel world. Did you know that? I didn’t. I’m used to noodling over ideas that might amount to a single sentence at the end of a week.
“Brevity is the – ” as my brother, top comic Kevin Gildea, says.
Speaking of Kev, he’s currently making wigs from his old jokes and his funny hair will be available free with packets of Dunne’s Stores (traditional) sausages (1/2 lb). Or at least that’s what he told me when I asked him what he was up to. He’s also developing a TV series, the practical sister in me insists I add.
Sue has gone on to write a fab one-woman show. Catch one of three previews at Bewley’s Cafe Theatre, Grafton Street at the beginning of August. It promises to be something REALLY special.
What else. Oh one of the best stand-ups ever is playing Vicar Street July 1st and 2nd: The Legendary JACKIE MASON. See you there, I can’t wait.
And remember that next Funny Girls date, July 8th Limerick. Laugh? You will.
OK that’s me for another year. xxx