25th Anniversary show for The Comedy Store Players

Last night was the 25^th Anniversary show for The Comedy Store Players, held at The Comedy Store, London.  For many this will have passed pretty much unnoticed, for others it has been one of the events we’ve been waiting for all year.  It did not disappoint, but then in the eleven years I have been going, I can only think of one show where even the slightest hint of disappointment crept in, and that was nothing to do with the Players.

For those who aren’t aware, The Comedy Store Players are a group of talented people who play together twice a week to an audience of 400 in a slightly dingy basement club, or to give them actual names, they are Jim Sweeney, Lee Simpson, Andy Smart, Neil Mullarkey, Richard Vranch, Paul Merton and Josie Lawrence.

I still remember the first time I went to the Store to see the Players.  It was a Wednesday in March of 1999.  I’d moved to London in the January, and couldn’t believe it when I was told that the people who used to be on Whose Line Is It Anyway? performed live and for a mere £10.  I was an avid WLIIA fan from my teens.  If I wasn’t in watching it on a Friday night, then I religiously recorded it and watched it either after getting in, or on the Saturday morning.  In fact, I still have a tape of it, lovingly cherished, despite the fact that all the old episodes can now be found on 4oD.  I can’t possibly throw that tape away.

My then boyfriend and I were sat four rows back, in front of the sound booth – one of only two times I have not sat on the front row – and to say I was thrilled was an understatement.  It was this first visit that introduced me to “Store Time” – those who go will know what I mean by that.  The Comedy Store is the only place I know that can fit THREE songs into 5 minutes…three FULL songs I should point out.

The Players came out.  Jim and Richard were the most instantly familiar, the rest were Lee, Andy, and Neil, however the sixth escapes me…I think it was a guest, possibly Steve Steen.  I felt like I was going to jump out of my seat with excitement.  Lee did the introductions, with people all around me shouting out suggestions when prompted – OMG that REALLY happened – and then the very strange occurred…Richard spoke!  I don’t think I’d ever heard him speak before, never on WLIIA as I recall.  And you know what…he was damned funny! 

Two hours passed far too quickly.  I ached from laughing so hard. 

It was a few months before I went again.  It was the following year I began going weekly.  Within six months of that I was going twice a week, usually on my own.  I was officially hooked.

You see, that’s the thing about seeing the Players, you could (and still can) go on your own to see the show.  I used to take a book with me, read for the hour and half before the show started.  Once you are laughing, no-one knows you are on your own and to be honest, you no longer are. 

Obviously going that often you would see familiar faces amongst the audience.  Other people who loved them so much that they too would bring a book and be on their own.  It might sound kind of sad, but really, it never felt like it.  The Store became my home from home.  I always knew that if I’d had a bad day that a show was never more than three days away and I would be laughing and going home feeling good.

It was around this time that I first spoke to the Players.  I had followed (some would say stalked but I prefer the term followed) them down to the Tom Cribb – it wasn’t difficult as Steve Frost was guesting and had a very very yellow coat on.  I decided “what the hell” and went on in.  It was very much a “fan girl squeeeee” first contact as I approached Lee and asked him to sign my ticket.  When asked what should he write, I joked “that he loved me and couldn’t live without me”…to my surprise that’s what he wrote, I garbled something completely stupid to him (something that hasn’t changed years on), thanked him, and hid with a huge smile on my face.  I still have that ticket.  It then became the norm to head down to the pub afterwards and over some weeks got chatting to Players and guests alike.  For much of the time my head couldn’t comprehend that I was having drinks with the gents that I had spent hours and hours watching on my little TV in my bedroom as a teen…look, I might as well come clean now…I’m a Gag Hag…and I’m proud of it.  Nine times out of ten I would rather have the pleasure of seeing a comedian than a musician.  The Players are my Beatles.

Before long the inevitable happened, and those other audience members who went so often eventually got around to talking to one another.  The first that I spoke to is a wonderfully nutty woman called Lynn who has been going to see the Players for longer than anyone I know.  Then she introduced me to “book girl” Zelah.  A bubbly Yorkshire lass (Lisa) was picked up quite by accident on a visit by her to London (oh the many many times of “are you pissed? Cos I am” being uttered by her to me…ALWAYS at a quiet point).  Jonathan, Lizzlie and others soon followed…and then The Wall was born.

The Wall was a (tbh quite basic) forum on the Players website, ran and created by the wonderful Henry (who I had the pleasure of meeting on an extended holiday in LA) and overseen by Mr Sweeney.  “Play Nicely” was the basic rule.  The Wall brought the community of Players lovers together, both virtually and in real life.  Thanks to this I have met the very lovely Noriko from Japan, the perfect gent that is Bo from the USA.  So many of our cousins across the water have become lifelong friends…Meg, Betty, Earle, Cindy, Vickie, Leann.  Vickie is the only one I’ve never had the chance to meet – but I don’t say it’ll never happen…Meg is like my sister, with Betty and Earle my adoptive American parents.  Those of us in the UK found many friends in each other.

Through the Players and The Wall, we’ve seen fun times and bad times, there have been fall outs and make ups, births and marriages, thankfully we’ve not lost one of our own although have been there for when our own have lost someone close to them.  So many nights out, both at the Store and at other places…so many stories of broken shoes, pants as hats, “Run, Jonathan, RUN!!!”.  Sometimes I think we forget that.  Through the pettiness that has sometimes arisen, we forget that we were only ever all there because we loved and appreciated the Players so much.

Of course, over time, new people arrive.  We are slowly being replaced by younger and firmer frippets (that includes you, Chris! Possibly one of the most dedicated followers of the Players I have met), as we once replaced slightly saggy older fanatics; well we have now become them.  In the last week I had the pleasure of meeting Kat and Pip – two of the new breed, and lovely they are…but damn it I’M FUNNY ME!  (note to self: if I’m going to drink an embarrass myself, drink more so I forget what I actually do/say)

The love for the Players hasn’t gone away, it’s just life got in the way.  No longer can I go twice a week…believe me, I probably would if I could, but, you know, the little lady has Rainbows on a Wednesday and it’s a little harsh if I abandon the family EVERY Sunday.  Now it’s a treat…and maybe I love it even more now that it is just that.  I no longer know the play list from 1830-2000 (oh yes, I used to and daresay that some of those who still go do so now!).  I no longer know who is on when without having to look it up.  I do miss it.  I miss seeing them all.  I miss the giggles with the group of good friends as we’re waiting for the show to start.  However every now and then I get to go back and do it all again.

So to the Players, I thank you.  I thank you so very much for the number of times I thought I wouldn’t be able to draw breath normally because I was laughing so hard…I thank you for letting me discover just how much Bacardi and diet coke burns the inside of your nose if you laugh whilst trying to take a drink…I thank you for the conversations and the hugs and accepting apologies.  I thank you for putting up with me for so very long.

The Players are so many things…there is the one who you want the night out with, the one you want to have deep conversations, the one that you were never quite sure of until one day something clicked, the one you wanted to be, the one that you never quite figure out, the one you will always be in awe of and the one you will always love.  Of course I won’t say which one is which, and to be honest some could be applied to more than one of the Players.  Should any of them actually read this…if you think it’s you that I’ve described, then it probably is, argue amongst yourselves as to who I wanted to be ;-)

Of course, I (and I’m not alone) miss Jim being with the Players.  No-one ever will be as quick witted as Mr Sweeney.  It was more than ever so slightly sad he was missing last night – I vote for a video link up, just for one last game.  Mostly I just missed not being able to harass him post show.

So this morning I wake up still smiling from last night…and thankfully without the hangover I had after the 20^th Anniversary show and party.  I leave you with one request; if you have never been then go and see The Comedy Store Players, even just the once (which it won’t be) or if you haven’t been for a while, go back and visit, remind yourself why you like them so damned much.  Here’s to the next 25 years!

(I leave you with memories from the 20th anniversary)