STROLLING out for the biggest Scottish date he’s played during a topsy turvy 20-year career, it’s clear that even the Festival Theatre stage isn’t enough to contain Stewart Lee’s comedy vehicle.
Taking his cue from the Johnny Vegas school of wandering among the people (minus the overt physicality), Lee eventually makes his way up to the balcony, continuing a micfree rant about a cider advert’s slogan. For seasoned watchers of the comic who co-wrote Jerry Springer: The Opera, this is classic fourth-wall dismantling Lee; for anyone new to his game, it’s a perplexing, nervy experience where the lines between funny and irritating are deliberately being fogged.
While Lee maintains with apparent uninterest that there are those present who will find his comedy “boring” and “awful”, what he has been solidly delivering in the last five years are masterclasses in the art of stand-up. With this current touring show, If You Prefer A Milder Comedian, Please Ask For One, Lee begins with a made-up letter from a pirate, moves on to the petty bureaucracy he encountered at a high street coffee chain, and along the way takes swipes at the public utterances of Frankie Boyle, Michael McIntyre and Richard “Hamster” Hammond.
Sporting a typically surprising flourish, he ends by singing Steve Earle’s Galway Girl with genuine sincerity, albeit with a couple of references to the night’s material thrown in.
While the concept of failure dominated his immense 41st Best Stand-Up Ever set, here the overarching theme is disappointment. Stewart Lee’s devoted fanbase don’t know the meaning of the word.
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Idrie, Youtube
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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98rosjon, Twitter
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John Robins, Comedian
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Al Murray, Comedian
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World Without End, Twitter
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Brighton Argus
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Stuart, Chortle
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Gwaites, Digitalspy