Janey Godley, The Garage **** As one of the longest stories of the evening was about the Glasgow Airport terror attack last year, it was appropriate for local hero John Smeaton to introduce his "very good friend" Janey Godley on the first night of the Glasgow International Comedy Festival. Smeato was then sent back to his box and Godley got in her first gag about sharing the stage with Victoria Beckham (that is, the mic stand).
Gallus yet self-deprecating, Godley swears like a trooper and likens herself to an over-friendly cleaner. Glad to be performing in Glasgow (Munich and New Zealand are next), the 47-year-old wife and mum from Shettleston says she's a bit worried about her own mortality, as murder is hereditary in her family.
The hilarious set-piece about Glasgow Airport praised locals who made a terror attack into sheer cabaret. Other highlights included a Scotswoman of the Year anecdote (when she had a face-off with Tony Blair, before being escorted from the building) and how her mum stood up to the headmistress at Eastbank Academy in 1973. Priceless. Jason Byrne, Old Fruitmarket *** A strong sense of deja vu occurred with Jason Byrne's first gag at his sell-out show. He had opened with the same Glaswegian taxi driver anecdote last year. Seeing a show that has been performed in Edinburgh last year is par for the course, but this was from Byrne's gig at last year's Glasgow Festival - so not cool. Repetitious jokes ensued, like the tale of his son telling his mum that she's carrying the Crocodile Hunter in her pregnant belly (you just couldn't forget that, and it was - of course - far more timely last year).
Byrne is excellent at working an audience, though, between savoured swigs of red wine. He built up an awed rapport with Nana from Ghana in the front row (who obliged Jason when a drunken Aussie had to be tackled and carried off the stage), poked fun at the weird venue and the pockets of madness therein, and philosophically examined - then berated - Ugg boots and stripy jumpers. And a street sign, a hatstand and a toilet brush made special appearances in the second half, due to the exceptionally sticky fingers of the crowd. Craig Hill, The Garage **** Craig Hill doesn't feel like dancing, even if his spinning black leather kilt and flailing pale arms told a different story during his dramatic entrance. Saturday night was Hill's birthday, apparently, and he managed to muster up a rendition of Happy Birthday - in French, no less - from his obliging audience. The camp comic from East Kilbride came over more like Colin Fry at times, with his uncanny guessing - just ask George from Law and the crowd of Aberdonians down for the rugby.
With his blend of comedy and singing, Hill imparted tales of growing up in Pollok and of travelling to Melbourne and Germany. He worked the crowd well, teasing information out of the hapless front row: Diana the occupational therapist from Coupar came off worst, though gained the accolade of being Hill's "favourite victim" of the evening.
And a chap from Newton Mearns was probably the most relieved at the musical turn of the gig, as before Hill's big numbers it looked very likely he was going to commandeer his mobile and "out" him to his parents.
