Reviews and Recommendations: comedy

Eddie, Eddie,
At last we were able to get tickets to see you live! Bexhill was the venue - London wouldn't let us book when we tried online. A lively, expectant audience became gradually more hushed throughout the first half of your performance. The sound system was so poor that we... [more]

Eddie, Eddie,
At last we were able to get tickets to see you live! Bexhill was the venue - London wouldn't let us book when we tried online. A lively, expectant audience became gradually more hushed throughout the first half of your performance. The sound system was so poor that we were unable to distinguish the words being spoken. People were guffawing at the sounds coming from the microphone but then heard to whisper to each other "what did he say"? We didn't wait to see the second half. There didn't seem to be any point.  Or are we missing the point......... [less]

Ross Noble is back on another annual tour, 'Things', and it is fair to say 'things' are definitely at the core. Whatever takes his fancy, whoever is in the audience that night, every show is basically new. For a show that averages  75 minutes per half (encores excluded), Noble... [more]

Event Date: February 24, 2009
Event Venue: Billingham Forum

Ross Noble is back on another annual tour, 'Things', and it is fair to say 'things' are definitely at the core. Whatever takes his fancy, whoever is in the audience that night, every show is basically new. For a show that averages  75 minutes per half (encores excluded), Noble has what seems to be at max 30-40 minutes of pre-rehearsed material: all the rest is eccentric, funny, ad-libbed banter with the audience. What happens each night depends on what's on his mind and what you the audience can throw at him (or leave on the stage for him). Noble broadly discusses 'Things' and will do, more or less, anything to get you drawn into his fantastically crazy world. Fantastic entertainment! [less]

I’m not sure I was ‘Ready for this?’  My exposure to Tim Minchin prior to this tour was limited to ten minute slots on other people’s shows or as a guest panellist on popular quiz shows.  I was therefore quite unprepared for just how brilliantly entertaining his solo... [more]

I’m not sure I was ‘Ready for this?’  My exposure to Tim Minchin prior to this tour was limited to ten minute slots on other people’s shows or as a guest panellist on popular quiz shows.  I was therefore quite unprepared for just how brilliantly entertaining his solo live show was going to be.

The small stage was almost entirely taken up by the enormous Steinway but onto it leapt a barefoot Minchin, all trademark wild strawberry blond hair and eyeliner to the theme tune of ‘Ready for this?’ beginning 90 minutes of angry, raw, honest, biting satire, mixed in equal measures with inventive eloquence, endearing tenderness and skillful lyricism.

The barely-contained restraint felt in songs such as ‘Good Book’, ‘Confessions’ and ‘Prejudice’ is off-set by the hilariously-presented yet serious messages within ‘Bears don’t dig on dancing’, ‘Peace Anthem for Palestine’  and ‘Canvas Bags’.  Then there are songs that make no attempt at restraint like ‘Dark Side’ and the fabulously vicious song for Phil Daoust (A Guardian reviewer who gave him 1-star in 2005 so Tim imagines numerous gory things happening to him).  Into this category you can also place the 9-minute beat poem ‘Storm’ (which, although sounds as if it is going to be about as funny as cancer, is actually the highlight of the show) and these deliciously self-aware and wicked songs are off-set by the surprisingly offensive yet romantic ‘If I Didn’t Have You’ and the lip-wobblingly heartfelt and beautiful ‘White Wine in the Sun’ or Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere.

Tim Minchin is gigging all over the UK until the end of December and I definitely recommend you try and catch him. Also, buy some merchandise after the show as, not only is it reasonably priced, but he sells it himself, personally! [less]

I went not really sure whether he would be funny or not...but he was brilliant!  It's a shame he isn't as famous as he once was because there were a fair few seats not sold.  To quote Ed "enjoy it while it lasts McIntyre!"  Lots of funny... [more]

Event Date: February 22, 2009
Event Venue: Southampton Guildhall

I went not really sure whether he would be funny or not...but he was brilliant!  It's a shame he isn't as famous as he once was because there were a fair few seats not sold.  To quote Ed "enjoy it while it lasts McIntyre!"  Lots of funny stories and a costume change half way through, he doesn't seem to have the best taste in suits...a bit too orange :D  And his show lasted for at least 2 hours, definatly value for money and a lot better than other comedians I have seen!

If only it hadn't been at Southampton Guildhall, that place has the most uncomfortable seats and the worst acoustics! :D

8/10!!!

Go and see him now! [less]