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Carpet Remnant WorldStewart Lee: Carpet Remnant World, Harrogate Theatre

By Rosie Revell in ThePublicReviews Posted on Thursday, March 1st, 2012

Stewart Lee, star of BBC 2’s hit show Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle, came to Harrogate last night claiming he had nothing funny to talk about any more. He currently spends his days driving around, looking after his son and watching Scooby Doo cartoons; he says the best inspiration for comedy. However, as the 90 minute show attested to, Lee does still find plenty to talk about.
Lurching from the decline of rope bridges thanks to Margaret Thatcher to left wing Americans via satirising those bland popular comedians who get by with little more than unconnected jokes and manically running around the stage, usually all called Russell.

Lee’s comedy or anti-comedy to give it a better title is delightfully dark, bitter and at times petulant. It is all the better for these qualities. Over the years he has moved towards this and it suits him very well.

If anyone is new to his style of comedy they may struggle to understand why he is frustrated with sections of the audience, who are “brought along by friends”. This is all part of the act and those who have followed his career appreciate the lengths he goes to, to engage his audience, and to chastise them for not being quick enough to keep up with him, or even get to the punchline before he has finished when the setup is so rigorous to make the point obvious. He pushes the boundaries to the seams sometimes labouring the point but this is all part of the act and part of his comedy genius.

Not many comedians would feel comfortable enough and self aware enough to structure part of their routine around derogatory comments that have been made about them on the internet. Lee delves into this section with aplomb, and suitable backing music, clearly revelling in the hateful comments that some people make about him on the internet throwing in suggestion that he may even have made some of them up himself.

In the second half, Lee recounts his struggle to find material for the new show he is getting ready to tour. The pace builds steadily until he reaches a crescendo at a local Butcher’s, before the denouement with a revelation of the true location of said Butcher

The jokes are insightful, relevant and thought provoking as well as providing great laughs in what is a well crafted show. If you have not seen him before he is well worth a viewing, but do a little research before you go, as he hates “lazy audiences”

Written by Rosie Revell in ThePublicReviews on 1st March 2012. Filed Under: Carpet Remnant World, Reviews
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