One of the many new event series in the Budapest constellation revolving around Howard Cohen are the English language stand-up comedy nights. The new venue is the Dover Club on Kiraly u., connected with the Dover School of English. Recently renovated, the basement club is gorgeous. I think this was the first event the club has hosted, and there were some growing pains. People had some trouble finding the place because it is not yet well sign-posted, it was cold (can't predict the weather, not their fault) but this will be to their advantage in summer, and the drinks are ordered on pieces of paper on running tabs. The drink system is disturbing to the performers, and confusing to the guests, but it is certainly less disturbing and invasive than the normal verbal system. However, I think if people just went up to the bar themselves and paid on the spot, everyone would be better off. But in time, all this will be worked out, and it is great that it is a non-smoking venue.

A very well-known face in the Budapest expat community, Ireland's Mary Murphy started the night off. She is known best for her entertaining performances at Gift of the Gab and Ignite!, as an informative and entertaining public speaker. She did not disappoint last night either, with her tale of arrest in Alaska. Mary was followed by top Hungarian comic Attila Gulyás, well known for his TV performances on Comedy Central and elsewhere. Maybe he funny in Hungarian, but he was torturously un-funny last night. The headliner was Brian Higgins, one of Scotland's top comedians, often likened in style to a young Billy Connolly, Higgins' friendly, relaxed and interactive approach is ideally suited to an international audience and has lead to him performing for audiences all over the world with great success. Brian was quite funny, and at one point several at our table had tears of laughter rolling down our faces. The next comedy evening will be on April 12, with Hattie Hayridge, one of the stars of British TV's Red Dwarf. A big fan of Red Dwarf, I am very much looking forward the the show.