REVIEWING a comedy show is normally a pretty straightforward affair.
Simply cherry-pick two or three of the best gags from the evening (filtering for a family audience of course), babble about audience reaction, add a cliché or two, and it’s job done.
However, reviewing Stewart Lee is a much more complicated affair. For a start, if you were to repeat any of the jokes, you’d need far more than the 400 words our esteemed What’s On editor allows for these things.
Secondly, explaining just what is funny about Mr Lee’s comedy has defeated writers far more talented than myself. However, all I can say is that he is funny. Very funny.
Saturday’s gig was made up of new material written for the forthcoming series of his BBC show Comedy Vehicle, and consisted of three half-hour slots.
Despite his protestations, the evening did have the feel of a single show – with the theme of an increasingly embittered 45-year-old father railing against a world he simply does not understand, or more to the point does not like anymore.
Topics for discussion ranged from the wasteland of a ten-year marriage, viewed through the eyes of two extra imaginary partners, through to the plight of disenfranchised voters being left with a choice of UKIP, which culminated in a spectacular rant against the first fish to emerge from the ocean four billion years ago.
It was all interspersed by imaginary phone calls to Michael McIntyre, and a running battle with a fly which made several uninvited visits to the stage. I guess you had to be there.
As I said, I cannot explain what makes Stewart Lee the best stand-up on the circuit, but judging by the tears of laughter from those sat around me I’m not the only person to think it.
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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98rosjon, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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John Robins, Comedian
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Tweeterkiryakou, 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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Danazawa, Youtube
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Stuart, Chortle
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Brighton Argus