It was devised by Stewart Lee, and with Simon Munnery stealing the show as acidly grumpy Johnson, the show evokes one of their most artistically successful former collaborations: The League Against Tedium’s Attention Scum.
The arrogantly superior Johnson tosses out savagely cutting put-downs towards the Scottish nation when he returns to present-day Edinburgh to relaunch his travelogue. He’s the ultimate urban sophisticate, a poverty tourist among these miserable Celts who exploits his unhappiness at being away from London in a relentless tirade of brilliantly savage, beautifully aimed gripes.
Edinburgh-born Boswell is his host and scribe – dutifully recording every delightful bon mot and putting up a meek defence of his homeland, which only prompts more delicious bile to pour forth from his friend. The decidedly English Miles Jupp plays this part, and aside from the nationality, provides a perfect humanising foil to Johnson’s biting insults.
‘A full working knowledge of the texts is essential for the enjoyment of this show,’ he intones sombrely at the start. Nonsense, of course, a full, working sense of humour is all you require. The show’s sensibilities are decidedly 21st Century comedy club, rather than 18th Century coffee house, thanks to a knowing, razor-sharp script.
To call it theatre is, perhaps, a little ambitious, even if they have got posh period costumes. Save for a playful recreation of a tempest Boswell describes – and rather differently than Johnson recalls – this is at heart a stand-up double-act, with the pair trading tetchy below-the-belt jibes, until the bullying behind the banter becomes apparent.
But, even then, the gags keep coming. There really is no reprise from the brilliantly funny lines, creating an onslaught even the most savage ocean storm would struggle to match.
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Anamatronix, Youtube
Anamatronix, Youtube
Peter Fears, Twitter
Peter Fears, Twitter
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Sam Rooney, Youtube
Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Liam Travitt, Twitter
Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
Richard Herring, Comedian
Richard Herring, Comedian
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Leach Juice, Twitter
Leach Juice, Twitter
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Horatio Melvin, Twitter
Horatio Melvin, Twitter
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Peter Ould, Youtube
Peter Ould, Youtube
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
World Without End, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
Keilloh, Twitter
Keilloh, Twitter
Hiewy, Youtube
Hiewy, Youtube
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Jamespearse, Twitter
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Meninblack, Twitter
Bosco239, youtube
Bosco239, youtube
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Guest1001, Youtube
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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John Robins, Comedian
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Rubyshoes, Twitter
Rubyshoes, Twitter
GRTak, finalgear.com
GRTak, finalgear.com
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Chez, Chortle.com
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Kozzy06, Youtube
Kozzy06, Youtube
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Etienne, Chortle.com
Pudabaya, Twitter
Pudabaya, Twitter
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Tin Frog, Twitter
Tin Frog, Twitter
Len Firewood, Twitter
Len Firewood, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Jackmumf, Twitter
Idrie, Youtube
Idrie, Youtube
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Anon, westhamonline.com
Anon, westhamonline.com
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Mearecate, Youtube
Mearecate, Youtube
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Danazawa, Youtube
Danazawa, Youtube