CHENNAI: Bored of Friday night pub-hopping from one loud stuffy space to the next? Then this might interest you! Steam and Whistles, at GRT Grand is serving up some laughter along with drinks and food! ‘High on Laughter’ and Ace of Comedy (Ace events), is scheduled to bring some of the best stand-up comedians from across the country’s metros, every Friday night for the next three months! And judging from the success of their first event this past Friday, it looks like there’ll be more in store in the coming weeks.
Chennai-based comedian Murali of The Pundits opened the show, wondering how many people would drink alcohol. “I respect people who drink, and those who don’t. But I dislike those people who DON’T drink, but also don’t know to drive! I mean, you got to do something to help us after we’re drunk at least!” he started. Hosting the show, he introduced the first comedian for the night, Balakumaran, writer for YouTube comedy channel ‘PutChutney’. “I’m basically from Madurai, and I found a lot of slang difference between our cities. For instance, you say Anna here, we say Annen; you say anga paaru neraya figure-u, and we say yenge yenge?” he began to general laughter, making fun of everything from how they were never taught how to speak to girls to the Khajuraho temple’s exquisite statue carvings.
After a short 10-minute break while the audience re-filled their drinks or ordered more food, Murali had the audience in splits just as Mervyn Rozario took the stage. A full-time stand-up comedian, he started by roasting some members of the audience, before diving into his comedy laced with ‘social messages’ along the lines of social media atrocities and pre-wedding shots. With a constant smile and never-ending jokes, his comedy was honest and candid, involving the audience in much of his jokes.
He was followed by the last comedian of the day, Vikash Paul, a comedian and a CA by profession. “If you all believe in the saying ‘saving the best for the last’, you won’t anymore,” he said with a straight-face.Their first event last Friday saw celebrities like Chinni Jayanth, Actress Aishwarya Ramesh, and Malaysian dancer Ramli among the audience. A refreshing change in the city’s bar scene is always welcome!Catch ‘High on Comedy’ on Friday nights. For details call: 28150500