Stand-Up Review: What Is Love, Anyway?

Richard Herring is a sweetie. There's simply no denying it. He may have stood on stage and delighted in the vulgar and sophmoric in "AIOTM", or tormented comedy partners with sick imagery and a sicker brain. He's still a sweetie. His new show "What Is Love, Anyway?" is a triumph, or rather I expect it will be - since I've only see the (very polished) preview. Despite it's unfinished nature, it was the best stand-up set I've had the pleasure of seeing. You might say I'm biased since I'm a long time fan girl -I even own a t-shirt, but last night I put down my wine, listened and felt deeply touched. Not like that.

What is love, anyway? Howard Jones says it's leaving room for doubts, other songwriters tell you that despite the dark night, the heartbreak, the physical abuse, the cheating or otherwise hell to pay, that some people muster up a love so intense, so pure that it can endure any attack no matter how atrocious. People are immortalised by their love - or fossilised by it. Finally the bible comes along and defines a kind of love so bloody blissful that it is nigh on unattainable and if you had it, well you'd probably be bored.

Love is not boastful, love is kind, it is not arrogant nor rude - all of which seems to be at odds with Herring's on-stage persona of a juvenile bombast, delighting in the moronic. When one thinks of Richard Herring the first thing that comes to mind ridiculer of the offensive and champion of the absurd. Though he has presented a softer side before, both in his delightful and long running blog Warming-Up and in the reflective "Headmaster's Son".

In "What Is Love, Anyway?" Herring purports a rationalist perspective; love is as ridiculous a belief as religion. Faith in soul mates, in moonlit walks and hands held tightly, is all just as foolish. It the hands of a less skilful comic, the show could easily become the same bitter rant that's been spewed at bartenders through the ages. It never does. Instead "What Is Love, Anyway?" skilfully blends the pitfalls and absurdity of romance; it's never mawkish, nor wistful, nor is it overly cynical or cruel. The humour is keen, personal and utterly beguiling. You leave needing to think on about Herring's observations, not because they're so quotable, nor because of the unexpected tenderness flourished at the end, but because the jaunty pace and blithe delivery mask unexpected wisdom.

The show hits the highest peak of comedy, it is both funny and astute. It does not lecture, it does not harrange. It is quick to laugh at the foibles of human nature and sniggers at delusions. Like the Apostle Paul, Herring it seems, trusts, hopes, perseveres (even when he claims otherwise), but later laughs heartily.

Well worth a look. Go, go, flock in your droves.

Richard Herring is NOT Racist, so put that in your Guardian Pipe and Smoke it!

Pass me some oats as my high horse needs feeding.....

Yesterday a Guardian article entitled the 'New Offenders of Stand-up Comedy' unfairly besmirched comedian Richard Herring, deliberately misquoting him as holding racist sympathies. I'd just like to take a moment to stand up for the poor stand-up, not because I'm a nerdy superfan* but because the article is libelous, and being so misrepresents him to potential punters. Once again, I'd like to state in google friendly terms; Richard Herring is not racist.

I'm frankly baffled at where to begin. Firstly I'd like to express my disappointment at the Guardian for their willful misrepresentation of facts to suit their copy. I mean, the 'Guardian' for crying out loud! Next they'll be misquoting talking foxes who miss the good old days being hunted -"we've all gotten so obese without the exercise, don'tcha know".

The gist of Brian Logan's article (here) is that comedy has swung around from political correctness to attacking established "right on" values for the sake of being needlessly controversial, and Richard Herring's new show 'Hitler Moustache' is indicative of this dark trend Logan gives a brief description of the show but then winds up by quoting Richard out of context saying "that racists have a point". At the end of the article he makes a point that outrage can be useful, but the comedy audiences should feel free to stand up and walk away from shows that bully.

By gum it does sound bad doesn't it?

If I didn't know who this Herring guy was I'd assume he was a raving right wing bigot who probably built his own boats to deport any neighbours he didn't like - I'd bet he'd even make them out of old copies of the Daily Mail all the while chuckling to himself at the thought of waterlogging. I certainly wouldn't be interested in listening to any of his views and his name (if remembered) would become an anathema akin to Bernard Manning.

Actually Richard has written thoughtful show around the toothbrush/'Hitler' moustache questioning whether it can ever be reclaimed for Charlie Chaplin and comedy in general. By wearing the moustache and talking about it he's safely in the realms of "right on" comedy that challenges the audience to think about what is offensive. This show, like most of his output, delights in absurdities, irony, and logical fallacies - all of which are astutely constructed with careful wit .

Richard's mortified rebuttal is here, if you want to read anymore about this. Hopefully he'll have a right to reply, not to mention an apology, from the Guardian. Dave Gorman has also written an rather good blog entry on this subject (here), which I'd like to paraphrase; you don't have to like Richard Herring, it's fine not to, but he's not racist and deserves accurate representation, as does everyone.

*yes, I know I am. I love my 'who is Virgillo Anderson? t-shirt and I don't care who knows it.

Comedy Review: Mark Watson

Last a night a full house gathered at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff. A colourful mix of students, radio 4 listeners and people looking for something to do on a Friday - all in turn serving themselves as people watching entertainment extraordinaire. Yes, I had wine in hand and slightly nervous conversation to make. The reason for the milling? Mark Watson; sometime radio and TV funny chap, who was out to entertain with his ambitiously titled "All the thoughts I've had since I was born' act. Unlike most of the things I blog about he did actually play Aberystywth a few days earlier, bless him.

Within minutes of Mark's somewhat eccentric appearance the crowd were completely disarmed and delighted. His engaging manner, impeccable delivery and self-deprecating ways were winning and witty, as was his anecdotal set. Mark Watson isn't surreal, he doesn't have catch phrases, and he's not witheringly sarcastic: he is a rare gem of an observational comic possessing a charming way with words...

Be prepared though - those words come out at a rate of around a million a minute. My gosh no wonder he's so thin! Not that Mark bounds back and forth around the stage, it's just that the sheer energy and enthusiasm he invests into his ramshackle tales punches home an admirable work ethic. As a consequence stories tend to ramble breathlessly, and not all get wrapped up neatly. For the most part that's okay - firstly there's usually something very, very funny waiting to spring out from reminiscence prison; also the whimsical nature of the musings means that you find yourself chortling away to a turn of phrase, not caring that there wasn't quite an end to the narrative, whilst you're lead down a garden path of a completely different, sometimes dark, nature.

The show was great, and faults were few; maybe there seemed to be a lack of control over the audience in the second half - things became a bit too pally for my liking. Some members rattled on and on. Then again the general high levels of interaction served to spawn one or two big laughs, and the idea of a competition encouraging people to be nice to each other certainly brightened some lives- £3 cash prize not to be mocked in these hard times.

The only other flaw seemed to be the haphazard introduction of general themes, such as compliments or 'Little Book of Calm' style de-stressing; these touchstones of structure didn't quite scaffold the show and seemed slightly cumbersome. Like Eddie Izzard, Mark riffs (about his life, not bees), and I suspect just like Izzard, those riffs are carefully worked out, but they sometimes clashed with the broader musings, throwing out the pace slightly.

Mark's been performing at the fringe and touring generally since 2004 , garnering accolades and praise, but he's still a young comedian and the small niggles are easily consequential of that. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, laughing along to an original, warm and mirthsome soul. I'm looking forward to more of Mark's wry comedy in the future.

Four Stars and a big grin for Mr Watson.

You can stalk Mark on twitter, or find his tour dates listed here.