Reviews

Standup and be counted: Tim Minchin

Tim Minchin and His Orchestra, O2 Arena, London (Rated 3/ 5 )

Over the last week critics have showered Tim Minchin in stardust for his musical version of Roald Dahl's Matilda. While I look forward to seeing this fêted show, the prospect of revisiting Minchin's musical comedy hits didn't leave me quite as excited and I found myself leaving his arena show as ambivalent as ever about him.

Inside Reviews

Mark Watson: Do I Know You? Hammersmith Apollo, London (Rated 4/ 5 )

Tuesday, 14 December 2010

On his journey from cult Edinburgh Fringe favourite to big venue comic, Mark Watson has notched up the kinds of TV appearances a graduating stand up might be expected to make, including Mock the Week and Never Mind the Buzzcocks, but it's clear tonight that performing to his largest live audience yet is the feather in his cap that is tickling him the most.

Angelos Epithemiou and Friends, Bloomsbury Theatre, London (Rated 3/ 5 )

Thursday, 9 December 2010

BBC2's Shooting Stars provided the big break for Angelos Epithemiou and in a very short space of time, the dishevelled clown, who owes so much to the stylings of his hosts Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, has enjoyed a suitably stellar ascent.

The Angina Monologues, Theatre Royal, Haymarket, London (Rated 4/ 5 )

Tuesday, 7 December 2010

Comic queen and friends are on song

Jason Manford: Off On Tour We Go, Hammersmith Apollo, London (Rated 3/ 5 )

Friday, 26 November 2010

"I don't get recognised much – well not until recently." So joked Jason Manford of his recent trials at the hands of the tabloid press. If he looked at all peaky tonight, it was more to do with the blue stage lighting than the after-effects of the exposure of his blue Tweets to female fans which led to him stepping down from The One Show. Here was a clubbable man determined to go about his business as usual. And he was duly firm with the inevitable hecklers. "You paid £20 and you brought your own jokes!" Manford riposted, after leaving a silence for his heckler to elaborate on an obvious, albeit well-timed cry of "Twitter!"

DVD: Simon Amstell: Do Nothing Live, For retail & rental (Universal)

Sunday, 21 November 2010

Ever since Popworld, Amstell has come across as a highly intelligent yet awkwardly anxious geek – and his stand-up is no different.

Bill Bailey: Dandelion Mind, Wyndham's Theatre, London (Rated 3/ 5 )

Monday, 15 November 2010

Comedian's show fails to fully flower

Peter Kay: The Tour That Doesn’t Tour Tour, 02, London (Rated 3/ 5 )

Tuesday, 9 November 2010

Mum's happy, not sure about the rest of us

Stewart Lee: Vegetable Stew, Leicester Square Theatre, London (Rated 4/ 5 )

Wednesday, 3 November 2010

Sharp show is souped up with jokes

Ardal O'Hanlon, Richmond Theatre, London (Rated 3/ 5 )

Wednesday, 27 October 2010

"To wake the soul by the tender strokes of art" runs the quote from Alexander Pope on the proscenium arch of the Richmond Theatre. Ardal O'Hanlon has a reasonable go and finds that most souls are awake for his second half, if not all for his first.