The dense three week cheesecake of the comic that is the Comedy festival kicked off last Sunday with First Laughs. A smorgasboard of some of the talents available during the coming weeks, it was a wonderful (if long) way to kick off the giggles.

Ben Hurley MC’d with wit, aplomb and a sharp (if occasionally distainful) professionalism. Guiding us through this forest comics with a controlled and composed sense of just how close the whole evening seemed to be to just melting down into a slurry of ego and ignored time limits.

So, the acts, what were they like? Eh? Hm? Well, good on the whole. All had a good routine or two.

Steve Wrigley had a go at milk, pies and the military, made no attempt to hide his bald patch.
Sarah Harpur talked about cats and children, she’s been funnier elsewhere.
Jamie Bowen played ‘Gangster’s Paradise’ on the ukulele, better than it sounds.
Maeve Higgins was Irish, charming.
El Jaguar shouted a lot, demanded/pleaded for our approval.
Miles Jupp was upper class, dry, genius.
Jan Maree was Jan Maree. Rinse, repeat, Jan Maree.
Do you know who loves Jarred Christmas? Jarred Christmas.
Jason Cook was Geordie, peppy.
Jarleth Regan compared things, made funny.
Jeremy Elwood was okay, I guess.
Zoe Lyons was energetic, good.
Dai Henwood… well, if you like Dai Henwood, you like Dai Henwood.
Wilson Dixon was stoic, hilarious.
Terry Alderton was indescribable, stole the show.

At the Opera House, 25th April 2010