CityLife

S**t The Bed

BEFORE the evening has even started, I'd already got a few laughs from people asking what I would be doing later on. "I'm going to S**t the Bed" - "No, no, in Krobar". So far, so good.

With a laid-back Thursday night atmosphere, S**t the Bed gets off to a good start. Though there are a few empty spaces, it has still drawn a respectable crowd, especially considering the relentless rain and late hour.

First to take to the floor of Oxford Road's Kro Bar is York-based comedian James Christopher, who, according to the man himself, looks like a "gay Proclaimer". Playing on his Chris Evans-esque features and wiry frame, his material spans relatable issues from first-date jitters to being at the bottom of the pecking order at school.

He sails through his set easily, regardless of audience count.

The same could be said of second-up Rotherham comedian Dave Baird... who has wisely decided to discuss bang-up-to-date issues such as the BNP's victory in his home town of Rotherham and the shame of being cuckolded by a Chuckle Brother - "and not even the good-looking one either".

Unfortunately, the second half of the evening is not as at ease with itself. While it's perfectly OK to pick up the baton of another comedian, it's not great to do so while imitating them outright.

Clearly Rob Alexander clearly thrives on being compared to the late, great Bill Hicks, but talks about politics with all the quiet-loud pregnant pause mannerisms as his hero without telling his audience a single thing they don't already know or haven't heard about the Blair/Brown governments or the war in Iraq.

Bill Hicks spoke about politics and current affairs with genuine passion and concern and always did his research.

However, this is not the case with Alexander, whose arguments for legalising pot and rant on US soldiers is tired and clichéd, while his claims about the government i.e "They're screwing us all, etc…" are too vague to tread any new ground.

However, it's clear from his compering and talent for impressions that he has a lot of potential – he just needs to be himself more to let this come across.

Unfortunately, the least said about Mark Hayden the better. He is introduced as controversial, but spends most of his time jumping around doing impressions of toddlers and talking constantly about sex as if he were 12-years-old – not a great angle for a female-heavy audience.

Even his explanation of why he hates Deal or No Deal is too frantic to understand or even find funny, although he really does put in the energy here.

Overall, S**t the Bed is a great idea in a great space and certainly beats a night in front of the TV or at a mediocre gig.

Hopefully, Manchester won't have to wait for the next Not Part of Festival to see another one here again.