Guest reviewer: Stewart Spaull

Toby got the audience ready for a superb night of comedy in his usual expert manner. There were plenty of references to students throughout his compering tonight. Perhaps the prospect of fatherhood again has imparted a little world-weariness upon Mr. Hadoke.

First up tonight was Rodney Marques.

Rodney appears to have slowed down his delivery a little and, rather than immediately showering the audience with a hail of M-15 ammunition, took some time to build up to his usual combination of bitter, hate-fuelled sickness dressed in the genial tones of an institutionalised schizophrenic trying to charm the asylum review board into letting him go on unsupervised walks. To use a musical analogy, his set had the feel of a well-constructed blues guitar solo. In fact, Rod himself referred to 'jazz comedy' when he successfully salvaged a fouled-up punchline. Excellent.

The next man in the spotlight was Dave Bishop.

His set has recently become imbued with intensity such that the unsuspecting comedy punter might think that s/he has walked into a Baptist church in deepest Louisiana. This illusion would be shattered immediately upon hearing the filthy, expletive-ridden stream of bilious invective that flows from the sluice gates of Bishop's inner hell.

Dave had a magnificent response and injected a couple of new bits into his usual set, one of which is the routine about an unbelievable scenario involving Social Services' transport for people with learning disabilities and mental health issues, which is one of my favourite bits of his set. The most recent addition is the material which deals with the Israel-Palestine conflict. This was executed extremely well and showed that Dave can do political comedy - something which a lot of people try but end up being more 'radical local councillor' than 'comedian holding the audience in his thrall'.

The next act, Ashley Frieze, was in total contrast to Dave Bishop.

Shaven Ashley has recently lost the ability to pose as James Anderton at conventions for ex-Chief Constables of Greater Manchester Police, but I'm sure that that will not worry him too much. The newly-tricenarian (can you believe that people of only 60 upwards are catered for with a Latin-derived term - sexagenarian, septuagenarian, etc.? It took me quite a while to find that one, I can tell you... I tried triagenarian, triogenarian... anyway, back to the review) guitar-wielding comedy songsmith had a wonderful response from the crowd and threw in some bits I've never heard before,for example, the kitten song. If Bishop had been a Southern States preacher, Friezewas a youth pastor for the local happy-clappy brigade. He ended, to tumultuousapplause, on Britney Spears' Baby One More Time sung by Zippy and George... thenreceived a birthday cake. Nice one, Ashley.

Just before Ashley bounded on to the stage, headliner Gavin Webster cancelled, causing Toby some distress. This distress was cancelled out by Mick Ferry's agreeing to fill Webster's shoes, which was a treat to watch.

Most of Mick's set comprised audience banter; his questions and responses (unlike the audience members'), however, have been honed as a result of his having done hundreds ofgigs. This man is the master of the put-down. His conversations with the studentswere brilliant ("You're a doctor? At 25?!") and there were some great references toMichael Jackson, Oldham, and Doctor Who. Great gig, Mick.

The second headliner of the night, Anthony J. Brown, took to the stage a little later than planned but this didn't matter - there were still plenty of punters around to enjoy this excellent deadpan one-liner merchant.

Dressed like a funereal city gent and manipulating the microphone lead throughout his set (apart from brief pauses to sip from his pint), Brown took the crowd on a journey of weirdness. The silence between his setups and punchlines was a testament to both his ability to be in complete control of the crowd and their eagerness to hear just what the hell he will come out with next. I was disappointed that his 'birthday' gag didn't raisethe roof but there were plenty of other gags which did; examples include the 'journey from Land's End to John o' Groats' and 'Robot Wars'.

All in all, a brilliant night.

Stew.