10/04/13: It was raining cats and dogs outside but it was a whole different animal in the Royal Vauxhall Tavern; comedy nights are one tricky beast. Emma Packer, Chris Fitchew and headliner Zoe Lyons took to the stage in the convivial, candle-lit surroundings, to varying success.
Emma’s Aussie sketch character Susannah Kavannagh found laughs in the Olympics (“well aren’t you Brits getting good at sports – mainly sitting down”) and her argument that tupperware could have prevented 9/11 was a controversial highlight.
Zoe Lyons was a worthy headliner though. “The hottest thing in Stevenage,” Zoe was self-deprecating, warm and sharp. With her act covering everything from Travel Lodge’s young offenders’ decor to drinking on holiday (“this is a very nice breakfast wine,”) she had the RVT in the palm of her hand.
In a week of Thatcher death discos and Korean dictatorships, Fits & Giggles added some much needed light relief. Sure there were a few lead balloons and a couple of rowdy hecklers were practically flogged in the stocks, but RVT certainly put a smile on peoples’ faces that night.
Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane, SE11 5HY
Words by Colin Gentry
Photos by Chris Jepson
