Tens, tens, and more tens: the standard at last night's Gift of the Gab was evident in the scores. Five speakers took to the stage in their quest to secure a place at the 2014 GOTG final in March. First up, Zoltan Vajda gave an entertaining and heartwarming speech on growing up with a stammer. Next, Marianne Powell explored the pitfalls of assuming that just because a foreign word sounds like something you recognise doesn't necessarily mean that it has the same meaning. Madman Kevin Simcock left us thinking after his account of writing his own eulogy. Second-time-rounder Viktor Morandini revealed the troubles he's had putting on weight (yes, trouble!) while Brandon Davis shared his thoughts and research on names, anagrams, and corresponding job positions.
The prepared speeches over with, the audience put their collective heads together and came up with some rather interesting topics for the second half - the impromptu session.
Brandon picked two topics: Long distance relationships and table tennis balls and the audience went for the latter. Did you know that you can fix a dent in a table tennis ball using a hairdryer? Amazing what you learn on a Wednesday night in Budapest. Next up, Kevin stuck with his first topic - granny panties - and for the innocent amongst us, gave a fine demonstration of the phenomenon known as torquing. (I was surprised that the fate of Bridget Jones's grannies now that Darcy has been killed off didn't get a mention.) For Zoltan, the audience had to choose between what you would say to Napoleon if you met him and your funniest trip to the zoo. Surprisingly, they wanted to go to the zoo and in what was an innovative and inspired impromptu, Zoltan turned the audience into animals. Marianne had to choose between how to have a party with no money and cucumbers and their many applications in modern life. No prizes for guessing which one the audience voted for there. Did you know that non-Catholic sex education classes in the UK teach practical skills using cucumbers? Last up, Viktor, too, had a choice: How to teach onions to talk or do corporate outward bound courses really work? It was onions all the way and his solution? Time, a locked room, and a psychiatrist.
Our judges - Charles, Tunde, Rupert, Daniel, and Tim - were on form and eventual winner, who goes forward to meet with Gretchen Meddaugh in the final in March is .... Viktor Morandini. Congrats to all for taking part and to the audience for showing up and donating 106 000 forint towards the orphanage.
Thanks, too, to Steve and Edd for photos, to Kath for doing the door, to Zsuzsa and Ilcsi for working the mics and to Gerard for once again stepping in for Jeremy. To our sponsors Jack Doyle's and the IHBC - go raibh mile maith agaibh.
Places and spaces are filling up fast so if you are tempted and want to get up on that stage, let us know asap.
The prepared speeches over with, the audience put their collective heads together and came up with some rather interesting topics for the second half - the impromptu session.
Brandon picked two topics: Long distance relationships and table tennis balls and the audience went for the latter. Did you know that you can fix a dent in a table tennis ball using a hairdryer? Amazing what you learn on a Wednesday night in Budapest. Next up, Kevin stuck with his first topic - granny panties - and for the innocent amongst us, gave a fine demonstration of the phenomenon known as torquing. (I was surprised that the fate of Bridget Jones's grannies now that Darcy has been killed off didn't get a mention.) For Zoltan, the audience had to choose between what you would say to Napoleon if you met him and your funniest trip to the zoo. Surprisingly, they wanted to go to the zoo and in what was an innovative and inspired impromptu, Zoltan turned the audience into animals. Marianne had to choose between how to have a party with no money and cucumbers and their many applications in modern life. No prizes for guessing which one the audience voted for there. Did you know that non-Catholic sex education classes in the UK teach practical skills using cucumbers? Last up, Viktor, too, had a choice: How to teach onions to talk or do corporate outward bound courses really work? It was onions all the way and his solution? Time, a locked room, and a psychiatrist.
Our judges - Charles, Tunde, Rupert, Daniel, and Tim - were on form and eventual winner, who goes forward to meet with Gretchen Meddaugh in the final in March is .... Viktor Morandini. Congrats to all for taking part and to the audience for showing up and donating 106 000 forint towards the orphanage.
Thanks, too, to Steve and Edd for photos, to Kath for doing the door, to Zsuzsa and Ilcsi for working the mics and to Gerard for once again stepping in for Jeremy. To our sponsors Jack Doyle's and the IHBC - go raibh mile maith agaibh.
Places and spaces are filling up fast so if you are tempted and want to get up on that stage, let us know asap.
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