Round I of the Gift of the Gab 2015 went off in style at the Cotton Club tonight. More than 100 people showed up to support the five speakers in their quest for a place in the March 2015 final.
First up, Markus Frakes, introduced gophers to Hungary in his clever account of life in small-town Colorado. Next, Steven Nelson (a recently naturalised Hungarian) displayed what the inimitable Jeremy Wheeler called 'culinary xenophobia' as he explained how his hatred of sour cream impacts his relationships. Harlan Cockburn gave a very insightful and thought-provoking speech on computers (one that made me wish I'd better primed the judges that the GOTG is NOT stand-up; it's entertainment). Gerard Lucey had the audience in knots as he came out of his closet and told us of Darko - the man of his dreams! You just had to be there:-) Jwana Stevenson was at her inspirational best and had the audience hugging themselves as she explored our attitude to our bodies.
The judges (Rupert, Rockstar Terry, Tunde, Jane, and the one and only Kiss Tamas) were on form - although at times I did wonder if we were all in the same room :-)
The second half - the impromptu round - saw Marcus asking the audience to choose between Dancing the Macarena vs doing the Hokey Cokey and the more esoteric Yes or No. We ended up line dancing in a bar in Colorado. (The glove was a lovely touch, Marcus!) Harlan stuck with his first pick - Dreams can come true - as he gave us all hope for tomorrow with his account of a retired RAF pilot who dreamt there was oil in the Bristol Channel. Steve went to the audience to decide between Something lucky that happened to me and Smelly feet. In an odorless account of the former, he told of how Prague's loss was Budapest's gain. Jwana, too, let the audience choose, this time between I often dream that I was a ham and Squid. Suffice to say that I will never eat a box of Cadbury's Milk Tray again...Squid it was. JFW had to go to the audience for clarification with Gerard's picks. Polyoxymethelene (WTFII?) and American Pie. Invoking the powers of his Auntie Nora's apple pie, the man from Dublin now has the dubious distinction of being the second Irish man to make a GOTG final. Yes, Gerard Lucey won the night and will face off against another four finallists next March.
A great night was had by all. Well, I had a blast. Despite the nerves. No one died. All survived. And we raise a whopping 105 000 huf for our orphanage. Thanks to Tim Child and Little Britain for sponsoring the bottle of Jameson. To the IHBC for the trophy. To the Cotton Club for the venue. To Steve Collison for taking the photos. To Kath for doing the door. And to Ilcsi and Zsuzsa for doing the mics. I would thank Jeremy for scorekeeping, but I'm still peeved at him for correcting my English. Bloody cheek. Darwin could have been a naturist naturalist!
To those of you who said you'd do it in October or November or January or February, send in those photos and bios ASAP.... I'm a woman of little patience.
First up, Markus Frakes, introduced gophers to Hungary in his clever account of life in small-town Colorado. Next, Steven Nelson (a recently naturalised Hungarian) displayed what the inimitable Jeremy Wheeler called 'culinary xenophobia' as he explained how his hatred of sour cream impacts his relationships. Harlan Cockburn gave a very insightful and thought-provoking speech on computers (one that made me wish I'd better primed the judges that the GOTG is NOT stand-up; it's entertainment). Gerard Lucey had the audience in knots as he came out of his closet and told us of Darko - the man of his dreams! You just had to be there:-) Jwana Stevenson was at her inspirational best and had the audience hugging themselves as she explored our attitude to our bodies.
The judges (Rupert, Rockstar Terry, Tunde, Jane, and the one and only Kiss Tamas) were on form - although at times I did wonder if we were all in the same room :-)
The second half - the impromptu round - saw Marcus asking the audience to choose between Dancing the Macarena vs doing the Hokey Cokey and the more esoteric Yes or No. We ended up line dancing in a bar in Colorado. (The glove was a lovely touch, Marcus!) Harlan stuck with his first pick - Dreams can come true - as he gave us all hope for tomorrow with his account of a retired RAF pilot who dreamt there was oil in the Bristol Channel. Steve went to the audience to decide between Something lucky that happened to me and Smelly feet. In an odorless account of the former, he told of how Prague's loss was Budapest's gain. Jwana, too, let the audience choose, this time between I often dream that I was a ham and Squid. Suffice to say that I will never eat a box of Cadbury's Milk Tray again...Squid it was. JFW had to go to the audience for clarification with Gerard's picks. Polyoxymethelene (WTFII?) and American Pie. Invoking the powers of his Auntie Nora's apple pie, the man from Dublin now has the dubious distinction of being the second Irish man to make a GOTG final. Yes, Gerard Lucey won the night and will face off against another four finallists next March.
A great night was had by all. Well, I had a blast. Despite the nerves. No one died. All survived. And we raise a whopping 105 000 huf for our orphanage. Thanks to Tim Child and Little Britain for sponsoring the bottle of Jameson. To the IHBC for the trophy. To the Cotton Club for the venue. To Steve Collison for taking the photos. To Kath for doing the door. And to Ilcsi and Zsuzsa for doing the mics. I would thank Jeremy for scorekeeping, but I'm still peeved at him for correcting my English. Bloody cheek. Darwin could have been a naturist naturalist!
To those of you who said you'd do it in October or November or January or February, send in those photos and bios ASAP.... I'm a woman of little patience.
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