A terrific concept on which to meld high art with trailer trash, Springer’s notorious television show is parodied with considerable aplomb. The first half is straightforward. Similar to the small-screen version, the bizarre studio guests provide the fascination and entertainment.
They include a grown man having a tantrum while posing as a self-defeating tot, mullet-haired inbreds and dancing Ku Klux Clan members – the last is a rare side-splitting moment.
But despite roars of laughter from some quarters of the packed theatre, the show is achingly underscripted. The weighty idea in the second half to make Springer introspective by a striking Valkyrie appearing in his mind’s eye is sadly underdeveloped. Instead we are only left with an amusing but hollow plot with Springer – ably imitated by Rick Bland – hosting Satan, Jesus, Mary and Adam and Eve in an edition in Hell.
Richard Thomas’ music – simply musical theatre at times – impresses, though he and his colyricist Stewart Lee should realise that sopranos singing the word ‘fuck’ loses its shock value after two hours.
Repetitive scenes drag the last hour and greater spoken wit could bolster the show.
The 21 strong cast are good, particularly David Bedella as Jonathan the warm-up man, though Jerry’s mischievousness is absent.
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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A D Ward, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Idrie, Youtube
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Bosco239, youtube
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Brighton Argus
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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John Robins, Comedian
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Stuart, Chortle
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com