Review by Emily Pratchett
The front row completely avoided, a woman spent this show scrolling through Instagram – and a true lack of audience enthusiasm is the best way to describe DMU for Laughs.
A glass half full is the optimist’s way of looking at things, but a room half full for a group of comedians is probably not the most encouraging of situations. Still, the show must go on.
DMU alumni Jack Campbell, Dan Nicholas and David Morgan tried their utmost to encourage what audience they had to well, have a little fun.
But the crowd, such as it was, seemed reluctant and reserved. You can imagine that does not make it easy for the performers. Morgan, the third act of the night, admitted that he was a few gins down by the time he got on stage, liquid confidence perhaps?
Campbell, in true DMU student spirit, raved about how his university had done very little for him after graduating and therefore he is a comedian. His humour was relatable and quirky for both those who have and have not graduated from the university.
Nicholas tried to gee the crowd up with a small exercise, asking the audience to pretend they were on a rollercoaster to lighten their spirits, maybe they just needed to drink some spirits. He’s had been named ‘the Prince of Peculiar’ which may be because of his dress sense, a bird shirt and bird jumper. Simple but effective.
Some parts of the show felt like a battle between egos, with the comedians having a contest of who has done better since their university days, more than 10 years or so ago. Morgan, for example, is currently working on Magic Mike Live in London whereas Campbell openly admits to still living in Leicester.
Not saying that either is more famous than the other, but it felt like they were all trying to constantly outdo each other.
In terms of delivery, it was muddled, rushed and parts were lost on the audience. The performers worked accordingly to the situation that they had signed up for. But this is a show that needs a bigger audience, a few more performers and a little more time for each act.
Morgan said it best when he thanked the crowd for being ‘tolerant’.
