THIS was a rare treat for fans of the hugely popular television programme, Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights, although the Bolton comic was not there himself.

However, you got the impression he was there in spirit and the four Manchester-based comedians were glib about the fact that they were playing a theatre on the back of their success as supporting actors in the hit Channel Four show.

Coming on to the Minder theme I Could be So Good For You, "bouncer" Patrick McGuiness was compere for the evening and milked the show's popularity for all it was worth.

He was upbeat and lively and got the audience involved from the very start, setting the scene for the other comics to launch from their various springboards. Steve Edge, also known as "Alan the keyboard player", delivered some fairly standard gags based on regional stereotypes, old people and eighties nostalgia. It was not ground-breaking material but it was entertaining all the same and a decent enough preamble to Janice Connolly's alter ego, Barbara Nice.

I never expected to see barmaid Bloody Mary get the entire crowd on their feet and even have them singing childish songs with the mad mother of five, but it happened. It got better still when she cajoled the audience to form a mosh pit so she could go crowd surfing.

Teacher-turned-comedian Archie Kelly, Kenny Senior to Phoenix fans, has plenty of material and uses it to great effect.

The night was rounded off with a crowd-pleasing rendition of Amarillo that had everyone on their feet and clapping along. They didn't so much as jump on the bandwagon as use it as a trampoline - and fair play to them.

Published: 09/11/2004