Comedy Reviews
Stephen Merchant, Reading HexagonTuesday, 13 September 2011
Stephen Merchant has played the sleeping partner for so long in his professional relationship with Ricky Gervais that it was perhaps inevitable he would address the issue at the top of the show. The good thing about going on tour, apart from meeting ladies, is, he says, that he doesn't have to share the profits with "you know who". Read more... |
Outnumbered, Series Four, BBC OneFriday, 02 September 2011
From the long shot of the suburban London semis onwards, I couldn’t help but think of the 1960s BBC sitcom Not in Front of the Children which similarly focused on a middle-class couple with three children. There’s no laughter track on Outnumbered but there’s also no escaping the fact that - apart from a colourful new range of insults the kids casually fire at each other (“numb-chuck”, “toss-piece”) - this could easily be one of Wendy Craig’s naughty but nice TV families,... Read more... |
Edinburgh Fringe: Andrew Maxwell/ Hannibal Buress/ Cariad LloydFriday, 26 August 2011
It's typically intelligent and insightful stuff from the Irishman, who describes himself simply as a clown - but he's a clown with the requisite political knowledge and understanding of the human condition to make some pretty astute observations about how we are today. And despite his world view being basically lefty and libertarian at the same time, he's also self-aware enough to acknowledge his comfortable middle-class existence. Read more... |
Edinburgh Fringe: Josie Long/ Josh WiddicombeFriday, 26 August 2011
Last year, Josie Long, famous for her whimsical comedy and fey delivery, decided to get serious. Disheartened by the election result, she started to do political comedy, but sadly her level of analysis was along the lines of: “Anyone who voted Tory in May's election is a fucking cunt.” One year on in The Future is Another Place, the level hasn't been raised. Read more... |
Edinburgh Fringe: Chris Ramsey/ Thom TuckThursday, 25 August 2011
Chris Ramsey, Pleasance Courtyard ****It's easy to see why the Edinburgh Comedy Awards panel shortlisted South Shields comic Chris Ramsey. He's personable, very funny, has a well-constructed show - and is destined for a big television career any day soon. Read more... |
Edinburgh Fringe: Sam Simmons/ Totally Tom/ Humphrey Ker/ Nick HelmWednesday, 24 August 2011
Sam Simmons, Gilded Balloon ****Read more... |
Edinburgh Fringe: Luke Haines/ The Horne SectionMonday, 22 August 2011
If the cards had fallen differently Luke Haines might have been as big as Blur. As frontman of The Auteurs he was briefly tipped for Britpop greatness, so it is no surprise that he likes the idea of alternative histories. This special show, The North Sea Scrolls, was all about them, as Haines, former Microdisney linchpin Cathal... Read more... |
Edinburgh Fringe: Kieran and the Joes/ Conor O'Toole/ Tom Allen/ Kate SmurthwaiteSunday, 21 August 2011
Kieran and the Joes are a three-man sketch group (Kieran Hodgson, Joe Markham and Joe Parham, working with co-writer Tom Meltzer) who are young, personable and very neatly dressed in shirts and ties - but while they may appear clean-cut their comedy veers nicely towards the dark. Read more... |
Edinburgh Fringe: Adam Riches/ Kristin HershSaturday, 20 August 2011
From the moment Adam Riches bursts onto the stage, spewing his business cards around as a manic showbiz agent who wants to sign up everyone and everything - including even the venue's walls and floor - this is a show of hyper energy and absurdist comedy. Read more... |
Edinburgh Fringe: Tiffany Stevenson/ Carl Donnelly/ The Two WrongiesFriday, 19 August 2011
Tiffany Stevenson ★★★★ The comic is currently appearing on Show Me the Funny on ITV, where her smily disposition is a welcome antidote to some of the sneery critics they have mustered. There’s boyfriend stuff in Cavewoman but Stevenson also delivers a few astute political observations, as well as the occasional unPC gag - such as suggesting Tina Turner's dance moves were inspired by her avoiding Ike’s punches. Read more... |
Pages
latest in today
'We are bowled over!' Thank you for your messages...
