Fern Brady at The Stand

Second night on the trot, Nick and I head off to a comedy gig. Tonight it’s Fern Brady with her 39th performance of Autistic Bikini Queen.

Standing room only, it’s still more comfortable than last night’s squeeze into the gallery. And we’re barely fifteen feet from the stage, easily within view of her facial expressions.

She is reliably direct, entertaining and honest. There was a wonderful skit where she’s talking about sex within long term relationships. She turns to two women next to the stage and makes some comment about how they don’t have the same problems in an all female relationship. One of the women replies “she’s my mother” and Fern is mortified, seized by uncontrollable laughter, for several minutes. And then she regains composure and soldiers on.

The support act, Susan Riddell from Glasgow, does a good job too, but nowhere near as self assured. Although the image of machine-washable fannies is memorable.