comedia.co.za

Show time: 20:45
Ticket Prices R80-R100
Montecasino shop 24, William Nicol Drive, Fourways, JHB
www.parkerscomedy.co.za

Joe Parker has a very neat and tidy comedy club, have a snack and a few drinks before the show and then hit the casino, or lose your wealth at the casino and then go and cheer yourself up. Always has an overseas act on the bill and this is one of the most stylish comedy venues in SA. Good gig.

DETAILED REVIEW: Parker’s Comedy and Jive: Monte Casino

This is an excellent venue for comedy. A stylish, elegant place with a great layout specifically designed to get the most out of a crowd no matter how large, or small it is. Small crowds sit in the pit around the stage, while the larger ones spill out into tables and along bar counters round the back.
The lighting and sound are top draw and the staff are professional enough to know that they must serve drinks and get the food to patrons between acts and during the breaks.
The crowd for the most part is a fair mix of Johannesburg’s northern suburbs. You can be sure that the people who come mostly have money, but apart from that they can come from any religion, creed, or age group that the city has to offer. Moreover this crowd appears to be an intelligent one. They have at least seen comedy before and know what they are coming for, when they pay to enter the door. These are people who want a night of standup and are prepared to pay top dollar for it.
On weeknights the crowd, can be a little difficult to warm up but once they are going they are a treat. On weekends though its all party and big laughs are easy to come by for good comedians. The variety of comedians who go down well at this club is very high with the crowd prepared enjoy everything from slapstick to wordplay as long as it is quality. This is commensurate with the owner Joe Parker’s ability to pick good acts for his stage regardless of whether he personally finds them funny or not.
The food is imported from Fegos nextdoor and consists of simple finger foods in baskets. Drinks prices are reasonable and on most nights there are Tequila and shooter specials which can see the dedicated piss head get mangled on just R10 for a Jose Cuervo Gold.
In short this is the only real dedicated comedy club in the city, which offers comedy five nights a week and you are not a real Joburg comic if you have not performed at Parker’s. It is also the only venue where you can appear on a South African stage alongside acts from around the world and there is kudos in that no matter how good or bad those acts actually happen to be.