A fun evening in the backstreets of Kentish Town, where myself and some other Next Level Sketch luminaries went to a rival comedy night, The Dip, run by our nemesis Chris East.
Chris is a lovely host, and always books an interesting, alternative lineup. The venue is a little gem, an eccentric little cafe with great food and a toilet you need your phone torch for, lest you accidentally stumble into someone’s living room.
I arrived late, and so had to sneak in during Lilla Multipass’ set, with was an enjoyable romp through the toxicity of CEO culture. Lilla is in Michelle, Paul’s improv group, and has bones made from pure funcium.
Funcium is like calcium, but… oh, never mind.
Freddie Hayes – as The Magic Lady – I already saw at Extra Topping, but this time was even better. Incompetent magician is a tried and tested character idea, but Hayes brings such a madcap intensity that it feels something new. She’s a gurning, barrelling, energetic presence, all topped off with a voice that is half Thatcher and half Hyacinth Buckét.
I again was called into service as her glamorous assistant, this time having to murder a dove after accidentally reaction-catching it, and zip up an escapology cagoule as she careered around the audience.
I remember (fellow Next Level Sketch human) Rebecca saying it’s actually quite hard to be called up on stage when you’re a performer yourself, as you end up playing “a normal person”, which is never easy at the best of times.
Of the other acts, all of whom were good, I really enjoyed Maria Telkinoff, who is either an actual poet or is pretending to be a poet, and tbh I’m not sure it matters which. Her one woman show sounds amazing, and I’d love to book her for a future NLS if the dates work out.
The other idea I mooted last night was maybe doing a Next Level Sketch in Brighton at The Folklore Rooms. I’m not quite sure when this could be – maybe in the summer? – but I’m not quite sure why this didn’t occur to me before.
Much fun to plan and ponder, as always.
jamesofwalsh 