AAA Stand-Up

It’s a real shame that the highly entertaining AAA Stand-Up show has been consigned to the Cellar venue at the Pleasance Courtyard. The claustrophobic location certainly doesn’t do the three comedians any favours – although it does make for some good gags at the expense of the Austrians.

Acting as compere and also performing as the first act is Paddy Lennox, who not only does a great job rousing the audience but whose gentle Irish lilt belies a mischievous sense of humour.

Tom Craine, up next, is the highlight of the show. Craine knows how to pack in the gags and covers topics ranging from terrorism to train toilets and slavery to strip-clubs, spontaneously jumping from one anecdote to the next with infectious enthusiasm. And, in what is a rarer skill for a stand-up, Craine’s unexpected punchlines keep the audience on its toes.

Red-faced and crazy-haired last act Maff Brown is certainly a presence on the small stage. Yet whilst he succeeds in raising roars of laughter from the audience, a large chunk of his material comes from sure-fire comedy terrain – taking the piss out of other places. His main targets: Southend and the Isle of Man.

The three acts are all thoroughly enjoyable individually, but the combination of their slightly different styles means that the show has something for everyone (except, perhaps, Austrians or people from the Isle of Man). AAA Stand-Up is comedy the way it should be: a laugh-a-minute which leaves the audience wishing the show was just a little bit longer.