It was devised by Stewart Lee, and with Simon Munnery stealing the show as acidly grumpy Johnson, the show evokes one of their most artistically successful former collaborations: The League Against Tedium’s Attention Scum.
The arrogantly superior Johnson tosses out savagely cutting put-downs towards the Scottish nation when he returns to present-day Edinburgh to relaunch his travelogue. He’s the ultimate urban sophisticate, a poverty tourist among these miserable Celts who exploits his unhappiness at being away from London in a relentless tirade of brilliantly savage, beautifully aimed gripes.
Edinburgh-born Boswell is his host and scribe – dutifully recording every delightful bon mot and putting up a meek defence of his homeland, which only prompts more delicious bile to pour forth from his friend. The decidedly English Miles Jupp plays this part, and aside from the nationality, provides a perfect humanising foil to Johnson’s biting insults.
‘A full working knowledge of the texts is essential for the enjoyment of this show,’ he intones sombrely at the start. Nonsense, of course, a full, working sense of humour is all you require. The show’s sensibilities are decidedly 21st Century comedy club, rather than 18th Century coffee house, thanks to a knowing, razor-sharp script.
To call it theatre is, perhaps, a little ambitious, even if they have got posh period costumes. Save for a playful recreation of a tempest Boswell describes – and rather differently than Johnson recalls – this is at heart a stand-up double-act, with the pair trading tetchy below-the-belt jibes, until the bullying behind the banter becomes apparent.
But, even then, the gags keep coming. There really is no reprise from the brilliantly funny lines, creating an onslaught even the most savage ocean storm would struggle to match.
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Stuart, Chortle
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Brighton Argus
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Idrie, Youtube
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John Robins, Comedian
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter