It has taken a long time, from its origins at Battersea Arts Centre via the Edinburgh Fringe, but composer/lyricist Richard Thomas and his collaborator Stewart Lee finally witness the official world premiere of their much touted show at the National Theatre.
Lee himself directs a zingy staging that uses operatic devices to parody, satirise and celebrate the genre of confessional trash television and its high priest, whom Michael Brandon impersonates with a blend of semi-fake charm and good natured non-judgementalism.
The high-octane production never lets up in the first half, in which Springer’s studio audience howls and bays at a succession of lowlifes whose sexual and emotional obsessions are splurged out for all to revel in and despise. As one schlocky narrative succeeds another, a climax of brilliance is reached with the arrival of a troupe of all-singing, all-dancing Ku Klux Klansmen, who bring the first half to a riotous close.
It is clearly predestined for cult status but if one is being picky it is hard not to feel that the score is thin, although the parodies of Bach and Handel are cleverly positioned.
Or that the plot, in which Springer’s fired warm-up man (David Bedella) shoots him in revenge and then turns out to be the Devil, precipitating an Act II confrontation involving Satan, Jesus, God plus Adam and Eve, is laboured.
The show has grown beyond its natural limits. But it is great fun along the way and presented with relentless chutzpah
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Chez, Chortle.com
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John Robins, Comedian
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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World Without End, Twitter
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Brighton Argus
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Idrie, Youtube
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Stuart, Chortle
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Bosco239, youtube
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Keilloh, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com