Despite the massive downpour, lightning, the electric grid blowing out and other acts of god, I really enjoyed last night's standup comedy hosted by Baby Blue Banana. Besides, it gave something else for the comedians to play on. When the storm hit, I could not help thinking of Brian Scoffield's "Storm Across the Valley"... that was until the wind changed and all I could think of was "Shelter from the Storm." MC David Young did a fine job, and sometimes was as funny as the headliners. One of his jokes involved bars of soap, and I realised to my chagrin that out of some 40-50 people, I was the only one to still use this product from the Dark Ages. The show was eventually relocated to a tropical indoor space below the outdoor stage, and although we were sweating like pigs, no one seemed to mind. As one of the comedians pointed out, it was better than trying to walk home in THAT.

Opening the show was Australia's John Robertson. In 2010, Robertson won the prestigious "Best Comedy Performance" award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and last night we saw why. One of the best acts in recent memory, Robertson's high-energy show capitalised on the bedraggled audience and gave several expat on-lookers names that are likely to stick with them for life; such as "god," "the starer," "Led Zeppelin," and "Gandhi/Baldrick." Although Robertson kept coming back to these people as reference, he told some very funny jokes along the way, played some ukulele with surprisingly enthusiastic audience participation, and made a couple well-timed jumps out the window.

During the show he mentioned that since he travels a lot, he tries to learn a few things in each language and asked what a Hungarian cow said. The answer was disappointing for a cow, but if he had tried other animals he would have gotten a surprise. On my year abroad I was hiking in Ireland with a Swedish woman and a German woman in the Wicklow Hills when we passed a horse and I said "Nehhhhh." I was non-plussed when the ladies said something different. It gave me an idea for a Watson Fellowship proposal. I thought it would be the coolest thing in the world to travel around the world and make a dictionary of what sounds animals make in different human languages. For some reason this was not successful.

Craig Murray is a multi-award-winning comedian and actor who has risen rapidly to be one of the most popular acts on the British comedy circuit. Craig is immediately recognisable by viewers of British television, due to many appearances playing roles as a stereotypical Yorkshireman! Murray has already worked alongside many of the greats, such as Robin Williams. His performance was more low-key and laid back than Robertson's (not hard), but just as enjoyable.

All involved, especially the comedians, should be applauded for putting on such a good show under less than optimal circumstances.