They say when you are down “laughter is the best medicine!” and on Sunday 21^st February I was feeling soooo low I almost did not want to go out.

When you feel really ill you go to the hospital, so my institution of choice was the Stand Comedy Club in Edinburgh. Our nurse for the day was Sadie Hasler and the doctor on duty Russell Kane, no I’m not being sexist.

When you get admitted to the ward you meet the nurses who settle you in and make you feel as comfortable as possible. Comedy actress Sadie Hasler settled this audience in wonderfully with her series of short sketches, which introduced, those of us who had not seen her perform before, to her collection of very different female characters. Chavs, neddettes, slags all interspersed with Sylvia Plath reading letters to her husband. My particular favourite is the library assistant Kac which sounds like cake and her personal spin on reproduction and kiddies story time are fabulous. Sadie has said she hopes to perform at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2010 and I for one will be first in line to see her show. I would love to see her attempt at a cheeky little boy, which I think she could do perfectly.

Settled in comfortably and feeling a lot better Dr Kane came in to practice his speciality. Geoff first saw Russell twice in 2005 then in 2007 and 2009 when he saw his current ‘Human Dressage’ show. I saw him in 2008 intrigued by the snippets of his American CSI interviews aired between the TV programmes. So well aware of his excellent educational history’ I settled back and made myself comfortable and let the ministrations begin. Well it wasn’t long before I was chuckling, giggling and virtually rolling across the floor. We both wondered just how Russell would cope with the tiny Stand stage but needn’t have bothered as he adapted perfectly. Okay, it may not have been the smoothest performance he has ever given by his own exacting standards, but he just kept going with the flow and when too many ideas came in to his head at once, he paused for a millisecond or two then re launched in to the next session. As with medicine you adapt your set for each unique audience it was therefore no total surprise when I discovered at the end very little of the original set was actually performed which is excellent as when he returns to Fife later on his current tour I can go again and possibly see the 5 star review show Geoff saw during the last Fringe.  Not sure of where and when yet we will let you know as soon as we do. Meanwhile you can check out his website www.russellkane.co.uk

As I know working in a hospital no nurse or doctor can do their best without all the ancillary services and The Stand Comedy club has some of the best in the business, from the office, to the bar, the technical staff and Tommy and his crew. For other shows at the Stand go to www.thestand.co.uk  I certainly felt 100% better after the show than before.

Just a little ps but don’t let Geoff know I fell totally head over heels yesterday with the fabulous shaggy hair, the lopsided grin and those gorgeous lagoons of eyes not to mention that manly chest I got to stroke after the show. I have fallen head over heels for Cooper Russell’s gorgeous spaniel.

Sunday 21st February sees the rescheduled Russell Kane bring his Fringe 2009 show Human Dressage to the Stand Comedy Club in Edinburgh. Seen on TV's 'Live at the Apollo' this promises to be a fabulous night and those of us who have booked for this sell out gig will see if he deserved the 5 star review Geoff gave him during the Fringe.

Russel Kane - Fringe 2009

www.thestand.co.uk