Boothby Graffoe headlines the strongest comedy line up for months

 It was a welcome return to form for the Corn Hall’s Comedy Club, with a varied lineup hosted by MC James Dowdeswell. Hugely personable, Dowdeswell had a pleasingly large crowd on side from the outset, filling much of his time chatting amiably with the improbably large number of people celebrating birthdays.

The good-natured fun continued with a winningly eccentric routine from Alistair Beckett-King that revolved largely around the comedy gold of the New Testament. His intelligent, yet whimsical, comedy was original, charming and very much appreciated. It was quite a contrast to Canadian Adam Jamal’s bold presentation of some very contentious material, but then variety is the great strength of a comedy club.

Headliner Boothby Graffoe brought back straightforward silliness with an ease and style you’d expect from such a well-heeled comic. His wild flights of fancy were hilarious. His daft songs were all the more effective for being backed by gifted musicianship. But he often had the audience in fits of laughter just by pulling a face. With the evening rounded off by Sergeant Sid’s Vinyl Bar, this was the best night of comedy at the Corn Hall in months.