When you go to
see a stand up comedian it's reasonable to expect that the act will stand up and
tell jokes. But with Terry Alderton what you get is a running, jumping and
falling over comedian with at least two voices in his head and a range of sound
effects that would put the BBC's radiophonics workshop to shame. It was
entertaining and non stop, and the term 'stand up comedian' really doesn't begin to describe Alderton's act.
Much of the humour on display at Terry
Alderton's gig at Chorley Little Theatre was visual. The venue was barely a
third full but an enthusiastic audience saw this Essex stand up deliver a tour
de force. Billed as 'work in progress' some of the gags fizzled out, yet it was
still interesting to see and hear how the character of Liam at the Apple Store
in the Trafford Centre is developing. Similarly, Alderton's discovery of
a vibrator in his wife's bedroom drawer was a theme that he appears still to be
working on, as he returned to it several times during the evening.
One of
Alderton's stage tricks is to turn his back on the audience and pretend his
inner voices are talking to him with the audience able to eavesdrop. This device
works both as a means of delivering a joke but also as a way of parking one that
hasn't quite caught light.
At times the sketches - they are too unformed
and flow into each other too much to be called gags - seemed to go nowhere in particular, but it is not
due to a lack of material on Alderton's part. If anything, watching his
performance was at times like flicking through the channels with a TV remote and
only staying with each programme for a few seconds.
The performance is full on. Alderton is a ball of
energy and a brilliant mimic too, whether it's pretending to be two feuding
neighbours in Northern Ireland or a call centre operator in Mumbai.
Alderton was supported by affable Geordie Seymour Mace, whose act included his take on a
visit to Botany Bay and an enthusiastic performance fulfilling a 'lifelong
ambition' to be a backing singer with Gladys Knight & The Pips.
All
in all, a good night's entertainment and the Chorley audience left feeling they had
their money's worth. At £8 for a ticket this was excellent value for a comedian
who has already been on the small screen in various guises and is determined to
make it as a stand up and an equally funny support act.
