Stewart Lee has been touring the appallingly-titled ‘Room With A Stew’ show so long his agents obviously thought it safe to slip in a second date at Warwick Arts Centre a year after the first, perhaps relying on the punters’ memories being as useless as their ability to grasp his convoluted brand of stand-up – something the comedian regularly chastises them for.
The tour has been a way to hone and road test material for a new run of his Comedy Vehicle TV show, but while that date 12 months ago showed very much a work in progress, the fourth series is now in the can so this latest performance was much closer to the finished product.
Whether Lee really has a finished product is a moot point.
The set certainly never felt like it – and the comic would baulk at the notion of putting on the same sort of polished routine as the panel-show stars he habitually mocks – but the meticulous construction of his layered material offers damning evidence to the contrary.
Simultaneously intelligent and absurd, he takes logical thoughts – on topics ranging from wealth and patriotism to missing out on a BAFTA and urine – to illogical conclusions.
Lee truly comes into his own when he deconstructs (and often destructs) it all again.
Some elements didn’t quite hit the mark, and the passive-aggressive stance and contempt for the audience shtick are definitely starting to wear a bit thin, but Lee remains the UK’s boldest and most original comedian.
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Pudabaya, Twitter
Pudabaya, 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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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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John Robins, Comedian
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Idrie, Youtube
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Anon, westhamonline.com