Comedy All Stars at Harlequins Rugby Club

The benefits of living in Twickenham between two major rugby stadiums are obvious to those who enjoy the sport but many people aren’t aware that they also host other events that appeal to a wider audience.

Like last Thursday, when The Harlequins Rugby Club (The Stoop) hosted another Comedy All Stars evening. Tickets were £5 in advance and £10 on the door. There were around 10 table-clothed cabaret style tables in the Members Clubhouse (the LV stand) and a small raised plinth that worked as a stage.

There was a huge bar and several staff to ensure a fast service for the 80 or so people gathered there – although my partner was not impressed when he was told that there was no beer – only lager or Guinness. We chatted to some of the other folk there while we waited for the entertainment to start, everyone was friendly and we were made to feel really welcome.

Our MC for the evening, Tony Vino, bounced onto the stage to kick the evening off at 830pm. Looking altogether too young, he explained that he had started his working life as a solicitor. He was good and we were soon laughing.

Liam Mullone was the first act. A real blokish and laid back entertainer in a cowboy style shirt – I kept expecting him to burst into a country and western number. He ran through a series of tales relating to his overweight nephew, removing stains from his clothes, his attempts at dating, his porn collection and some great stories relating to the joys of track suit bottoms and cut price javelins from Sports Direct. The lake naming scene had me in stitches but my favourite line related to outdoor pursuits and smoking.

After a short interval, Sol Bernstein took to the stage. Talk about an old pro! An American Jew with a rapid fire delivery this was a comedy masterclass. His “ads” for Sol beer punctuated his session and gave it some pace. I was so glad that I hadn’t sat near the front as he was merciless as he picked on a couple of girls, a couple of older women and a young lad out with his family. There was another couple who he tried to draw in further but they were brilliant at deflecting his questions and remaining mysterious. Everyone took it all in good spirits – particularly the group of rugby lads who were frequently referenced with BrokeBack Mountain gags. Not surprisingly there were gags about religion and old age but his range was good.

We left with big smiles on our faces and a determination to make sure that we came along to future events.