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Canned Laughter review: Outstanding stand-ups prove the new normal may not be so bad

Matt Crockett
Matt Crockett

The comedy industry might have taken a financial battering during lockdown but that has not stopped it from supporting those less fortunate. Last night’s Canned Laughter event was a socially distanced fundraiser for the Trussell Trust charity’s foodbanks.

It was possibly not entirely philanthropic. Comedians are desperate to get gigging again. As consummate compere Sindhu Vee joked, it is a joy to be anywhere rather than at home with a monosyllabic husband and surly offspring.

Jessica Fostekew was similarly delighted to have an appreciative audience. The closest thing to applause over the last six months, she quipped, has been hearing the rasp of her girlfriend breaking wind.

Acid-tongued Sara Barron was on fine form, strutting around as she acknowledged that her accent might not appeal to everyone: “It’s American, sorry.” This was her only apology. Barron recently turned 40 and is hilariously furious about her age, her spouse and, well, anything else life flings at her.

Olga Koch was born in Russia and studied in America but it is the country that embraced Mr Blobby that truly bemuses her. Koch covered lots in her stagetime, from nationality tests to the flawed feminism of Emma Watson’s Beauty and the Beast. A closing dance almost left her too breathless to deliver her final payoff, which neatly rounded off her routine.

The show closed with token male Phil Wang ending as Sindhu Vee had begun by celebrating the fact that he was out of the house. And, in his case, off his phone too for once. He was particularly strong on assessing how modern fears have evolved. We used to be scared of bombers, now we are threatened by surfaces.

Five outstanding stand-ups, money raised for a worthy cause, an audience united by laughter. The new normal may not be so bad after all.