I’m still on a post-show high following last night’s spooky Halloween special of Next Level Sketch, which boasted the frankly ludicrous guest lineup of Jen Ives, Bab and Thick ‘n’ Fast.
I hosted again, and was welcomed to the stage by Dian on tech, who checked if the audience were ready to get spooky and / or sporky.
I hadn’t fully learned my opening bit, as is traditional, but I remembered at least 80% of it. My spooky intro was supposed to be accompanied by a loud crack of thunder, which was more of a mild faraway drizzle.
Not to be deterred, i simply repeated the opening line, and this time a satisfying crack accompanied my line. I then asked if there were any fans of admin in, which got a bigger cheer than expected, but still set up my next line nicely: “if you love admin, you’re gonna love the professional comedians you’ve booked.”
Following a check up on what percentage of the audience were ghosts (about half), and asking Grace in the front row to explain why Napoleon is her favourite spirit (“he haunts my house”), I went into my almost preplanned routine about my favourite recurring character in the news at present.
This is of course Hannah Ingrim Moore, the daughter of Captain Sir Tom Moore, and especially her ongoing battle with Bedfordshire Council over the legality of otherwise of the enormous spa complex she’s built in her back garden.
The line from her legal time that the spa “could” be used by the local elderly got a laugh, and I’m getting a lot better at waiting for specific absurdity to sink in. I believe the kids call this “timing”.
I then discussed where, specifically, Captain Sir Tom Moore could be haunting. I suggested the house, then the garden… again, it was worth pausing here before emphasising how well he knew it when he was alive. And finally, of course, the sauna itself. After this I got to utter a line I’ll never have cause to say again in my life:
“Just to be clear, for legal reasons, Next Level Sketch plc do not associate themselves with the views of the ghost of Captain Sir Tom Moore.”
And then it was time for the first act, a group called Next Level Sketch. Madeleine Kasson directed, as part of her grand farewell tour (she is moving to Bali literally next week).
The audience were quieter than last month, but I felt it went pretty well overall – particularly for Bin Day, Dorsey, Skin Yacht, and Larry The Chimp.
There is no photographic evidence, so you’ll just have to imagine me posing with a selfie light, before realising I was getting it wrong and joining the others around the imaginary camp fire in Spooky Stories.
Our set done, it was my extreme pleasure to welcome Jen Ives to the stage – her entire set you can watch below!
For the second half, I threw in a slight curveball of sending Greg out to host on my behalf, and he was completely brilliant. Some people are just naturally funny, and can get a laugh from a wild stare or specific grin. Greg is one of those people.
He went on as “evil James Walsh”, which was pleasing as between Thick ‘n’ Fast and Bab I was able to return to hosting duties and introduce myself as the “morally ambivalent James Walsh”, which is the best I can manage nowadays.
Both Thick ‘n’ Fast and Bab were excellent, saucy, and made half hearted Halloween themed efforts which I appreciated.
Highlights include (look away if you don’t like spoilers) giving birth to podcasts, appliance flirting, songs about eating your own hair and terrifying parodies of hetro lifestyle grifters respectively.
It makes me so happy to have been running this night long enough to have returning champions like these aforementioned lads, and to enjoy their comedy and their company as actual human beings.
That last sentence came across more weird than I intended, but hopefully you understand what I mean.
Big thanks to the cast, writers, Dian on tech, and everyone who came out to see the show, including NLS legends Angela and Roderick, who I think would make a fascinating double act of their own, should the mood ever take them.
Next Level Sketch shall return in Live and Let Die with Roger Moore / on 29th November with more fabulous sketches and guests.
J xxx
jamesofwalsh 