Ralph's Missives

Ralph Oswick writes:

Visit Ralph's blog for a selected archive at www.ralphoswick.co.uk

Henning Wehn: Upstairs @ Bath Pizza Co

Review - Thursday 18th April 2024

From our Secret Customer in Seat 13.

Whereas the buzzing Bath Comedy space at The Ring O Bells feels very fringy and the ideal improvised pop-up let's-give-it-a-go venue, Bath Pizza Company's new upstairs room feels more like one of the smaller venues in Edinburgh's prestigious Assembly Rooms. In other words, fringy but classy.

There are comfy chairs, an impressive bar and possibly Bath's best pizzas downstairs.

Add to this an audience with Germany's Official Comedy Ambassador, Henning Wehn, and you have the perfect Bath Comedy gig.

The place is small enough for all the adoring fans to feel they are being addressed personally. They are pleased to be in his presence! When I commented later that the audience seemed old, Henning said "Ha, much younger than my normal crowd!" So, lower middle aged shall we say?

Anyways, seasoned aficionados to a tee, they revelled in the first half of old favourites. Dying for him to do the "how I learned Cockney" routine, they weren't disappointed. German efficiency (apologies for a five-minute delay to the start), Brexit and countless other sure-fire material went down well. And of course, we willingly clapped along to what was then claimed to be a Hitler Youth anthem. We are but sheep!

In the interval we filled in Henning's postcards, the best of which were read out in part two. What did we think was the biggest threat to the environment? Quite a few people mentioned the proliferation of free pens for filling in said cards!

The second half was new stuff. All about global warming, over-consumption, but not in a pushy agit-prop way. If anything, the material, or at least the delivery, was less pointed than expected considering the punning title of the show, Acid Wehn. But just as funny, disarming and generally endearing as the first half, with added thinking points.

The two Bath shows were try-outs, of which this consummate professional delivers almost a dozen before launching into the big venues. Up close but not too intimate, it was a joy to be there.

And talking of big venues, Henning's honed and perfectly formed new show will be at Bath Forum NEXT April, on the 11th to be precise. Click here for details. At the time of writing nearly 70 seats have already sold!

Bath Comedy Club: Revolution

Review - Sunday 30th October 2022

Featuring Chris McGlade, Philip Simon, Adam Flood, Adele Cliff and Sam Hawkins

I've donned my independent reviewer hat this week, there being no ace Fleet Street correspondent attending this particular event.

Well, said correspondent, you missed a terrific evening's entertainment, to which I present four and threequarters stars. Why not five? Well, nothing's perfect...

This little venue is gradually getting noticed by the chuckling classes. It's very cosy, with its glittery curtain and battery candles, cabaret style...

As for this week's show, I think it was the best of the series so far. An excellent compere in the shape of Sam Hawkins kept things moving along at a decent lick.

The result, a cracking show, with all the acts presenting compact, pacey and utterly hilarious spots in satisfyingly contrasting styles.

Highlights for me were Adam Flood's slick and endearingly barbed manipulation of his auto-tune, and the astonishing rant delivered by Chris McGlade.

Thank you Nick, a terrific evening's entertainment, and home in time for News at Ten.