Another positive step forward at my preview gig at the King's Head in Angel tonight. I managed about 45 minutes of new stuff and the first 30 minutes was pretty solid. There is still a very long way to go, but people seemed to like where things were going. I haven't done much work off stage on this show and it is quite amazing how just six or seven performances of a bit of material can really start to knock it into shape. I shall not rest on my laurels, as it's still pretty shaky and I need to expunge a lot of what's in there, but am pleased with the way it's going.
Afterwards I sat at a table in the theatre drinking with the other comics. We were having a pleasant time. At the next table were two women and a man who had been in the audience. I wasn't really paying attention but they were joined by a wiry looking man, whose red face suggested he liked a drink who sat and started talking to them. His equally drunk girlfriend was sitting at another table and they had clearly had a bit of an argument as she was making loud, unpleasant commments about him. The young women from the audience were friendly and welcoming to this guy, who I presume they didn't know, which seemed like a mistake to me, but then as you may be aware I have had some bad experiences with interlopers into conversations.
The girls seemed concerned that the man and his partner were not together and asked her over, but she had the hump about something and said "I need a break from you for at least five minutes". I was already sensing that there was a powder keg ready to go off with this situation, but it was nothing to do with me - not that any of the previous situations when I have been in fight were anything to do with me either. I was wary though as I was sitting behind the guy and he loked like he might know how to fight and certainly wasn't any kind of arty-farty university lecturer.
The man and his partner were pissed and shouted insults at each other across the tables and after something about taking it up the arse the woman lost her temper and left the room shouting about he useless boyfriend, heading back out into the pub and probably then into the rain covered streets of Islington.
The man made no effort to go after her, though the girls at the table, possibly wishing to get rid of this volatile man, kept telling him that he should go after her and try to make amends. But he was having none of it. He was at a table with a couple of pretty young blondes and was going to make the most of his luck.
I was very uneasy about it all and the comedian opposite me had also spotted the potential for danger and as I had done my fight story that night commented that my fighting skills might be called on for use again. I was already thinking this and for a second thought that my fears might be realised when one of the girls pulled a face at me as if to say "Help!" and the wiry man saw her do this, turned round and was surprised to see me sitting behind him.
"Oooh, you snuck up on me," he said, as if I had just arrived, though I had been there before him. I mumbled something about having been here all along, but I didn't want to agitate this drunk and emotionally volatile man any more. Experience told me that if he was left be that he would probably remain harmless, but if he had the excuse to vent his pent up aggression on a stranger he might take it. And whilst I was worried for the girls and the situation they had found themselves in I knew that by saying anything to the bloke about maybe it being time to go back to his partner or to leave these nice people alone would be just the spark he needed to pound his gristly little fists into my face and testicles.
Later the compere of the show who hadn't really been aware of what was going on went to invite the girls to join us - he had been interacting with them in the show and he shared a common Polish heritage with one of them and was just being friendly. I thought it might be a good way to save them, but I don't think he really realised the potential danger of the man. The girls seemed keen to move, but there wasn't really room at our table and then the compere started talking to the scary man, not knowing he was scary and it looked like he might end up inviting him over too. But the man called him a cunt and told him to fuck off, possibly thinking that he was trying to steal the women that he now saw as his.
The situation was far from resolved when it was time for me to leave and I think maybe three weeks ago I might have said something, but I decided to extract myself from potential danger and in any case I needed to go to bed. I am sure everything turned out OK and to be honest this time there were enough people around to step in if anything went awry, but I knew that if anything did happen that it would inevitably me that got into trouble. So I did the manly/cowardly thing and walked away.
Making for a happy life, if not a funny blog about my face being rearranged.
Remember if you want to get your name in the programme for my Edinburgh show then you have to donate by the end of the day, Monday 25th June. Just go to my
Justgiving page and donate at least ten pounds and you will receive everlasting fame in return*. And thanks to all those of you who have already donated. You have raised an incredible sum for SCOPE and it is massively appreciated.
* NB Fame may not be everlasting.
