Daniel Kitson delivers thinking-person’s comedy. His rich use of language, his elaborate layering of his narrative, and the deep, internal territory he traverses, will leave a pub crowd a little lost and confused.
But if you are willing and able to engage your grey matter and scrutinise some uncomfortable truths that all of us share, then this show will be worth every penny.
There are other comedians being promoted as acute observers of humanity, but nobody can hold a candle to Kitson. He ruthlessly examines our timidity in the face of opportunities to show compassion, and our cowardice in speaking our minds as we flit between fear of death and fear of looking silly.
If this is sounding all a bit too heavy, then I am giving you a slightly wrong and slightly right impression of the show. On one hand, Kitson the comic is in full flight, spurting comedic gems like a king tossing sovereigns to the crowds, but on the other hand, we also watch Kitson the mad, humanist, preacher, trying to measure and lighten his important message to us to become more engaged in the world around us and to have courage to show compassion.
This beautifully crafted show does drag towards the end, like a majestic cruiser gently scraping against the shoreline after a rugged journey. It might benefit from some trimming, as 90 minutes is quite a challenge for any comic to hold the floor, especially one who is punctuating his banter with beatitudes.
Find a friend who enjoys conversation, see the show, and then search for a quiet bar or cafe to mull over this intriguing material.
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