Stewart Lee –
41st Best Stand-Up Ever
Stewart Lee
E4 Udderbelly’s Pasture @ 19:30, Aug 2-27 (not 15), (55mins), £12.50 (£11.00), £14.00 (£12.50)
****
Stewart Lee is getting old. He’s never been a particularly lively fellow or offered up much of a cheery persona, but these days his style is even further absorbed by a sense of weariness and disappointment. Perhaps its fatherhood that’s done this, although more than anything else that seems to bring him contentment. It’s difficult to put your finger on frankly.

There has been much said about the sadness of clowns and despite being the 41st best stand-up of all time, Stewart Lee seems at face value to be one of the more glum performers on the circuit today. He seems to be bothered by something. Admittedly he’s always suffered from a variety of itching issues prodding away at his inner psyche, but this latest one is about comedy and naturally with humour playing such an important role in his life it’s getting to him a fair old bit.

Lee is nagged by the public’s perception of what is funny, he’s annoyed by the latest breed of popular comedians, and he’s exasperated by modern television culture. He is also nagged by his mother on the subject of why he fails to be as funny as Tom O’Connor, a subject which, in the tradition of bothersome antagonism he chooses to pass on to us, persistently harassing the audience with one single Tom O’Connor witticism throughout the show. This particular behaviour displays Lee’s confidence, skill and power as an established stalwart of the comedy circuit.

Recounting the joke for many minutes he repeats himself again and again; it starts off funny, then becomes dull, next tiresome, then irritating, then through sheer dogged persistence it manages to circumnavigate the patience and humour of the audience returning back to its home city of funny, but with added celebrity status its welcome has doubled. But still Lee continues, knowingly repeating the same line again and again as he tests the audience’s willingness to indulge him.

A daring feat, and one that proves his place as the 41st best stand-up ever. In fact I’ll go so far as to suggest he was robbed… he should be at least number 39.

by Ian Phillips

The National Student's
2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe
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