Homepage News Reviews - Acts - Shows - Screen - Radio - Books - Clubs Interviews Awards 2006 Edinburgh 2005 - Reviews - Blog - Previews Features Archive Awards 2005 Edinburgh 2004: - Previews - Shows - Diary Guestbook Forum © Emporium Of Mirth 2004 Editor: Lauren Murphy Reporters: Fiona Wilkie Natalie Joanne	Emporium of Mirth Monkey Business Monkey Business @ Lush, Camden. (£10) Camden’s Monkey business is pretty much a one-man operation with compare Martin Besserman also being the booker, promoter and customer services department all rolled into one. It’s exactly this that gives Monkey Business it’s charm and helped it gain such a solid reputation over the last year. When Martin takes to the stage he treats the audience like old friends, and references the phone conversations he has had with them to book their tickets. Sometimes this can be a little embarrassing for the person he chooses to pick on, but only seems to serve to bring the audience closer. In many cases, this closeness also brings the best out in the acts, they have an idea of their audience even before they take the stage. On the night I visited, Lee Mack was playing and it is a testament to this atmosphere that at the end of his set he sighed fondly and said “This is a proper little dingy comedy club… I’ve missed this!” The line-ups at Monkey Business are eclectic and subject to change at short notice but under no circumstances let that put you off taking the plunge. On stage Martin warns of this, and seems to revel in getting fresh faces onto the stage along with old hands with a strong following. As a result, the night’s entertainment can be quite hit and miss, a fact Martin himself admits to, he knows some of the acts have been rubbish, be he doesn’t care, he gave them a chance. I advise you to do the same with Monkey Business. For more information e-mail Mr Monkey Business himself, Martin Besserman. RSS  Printable version	Visit our Siamese Twin Sister Site!