A new comedy sketch based series is currently airing on BBC Radio 4 entitled Sketchorama. It is a half hour show presented by one third of the Penny Dreadfuls (they’re not that bad really) Humphrey Ker. Each week he introduces three up and coming sketch groups. The episode I listened to last night showcased the talents of The Noise Next Door, The Boom Jennies, and Jigsaw. All three groups had some interesting ideas, and on the whole a very funny bunch. It has been said that the comedy sketch as a format is a dying art: on the evidence of this show and the artists featured I would have to strongly disagree with that. Being able to come up with sketches based around all sort of daily situations, especially those provided by the audience and then performed without rehearsal or preparation is still a great way of showcasing obvious talent. All hail the new gods of sketch comedy.
Being British I found it strange to be asked if I am celebrating Independence Day today. It’s the first time I have been asked this question. What was even stranger still was the following question put to me, ‘Why not?’ I then had to go through the process of explaining as to why not. Reading this, you may think it odd, as I did, to feel the need to explain why we Brits don’t celebrate, as our American cousins do, the signing of the declaration of independence. To be fair, the person asking me this question is of ethnic descent and therefore lacking in that particular grasp of the difference between ourselves and the US (that’s not to say all people of ethnic minorities are unaware of that particular difference between our cultures) He related the fact that Father Christmas, as an icon is essentially a US based characterisation of St Nicholas. If I’m not mistaken I think he believed that to be a reasonable argument for us to celebrate this day as well. I could be mistaken myself, but I may well have bridged the gap in his knowledge of this day and its meaning to the citizens of
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