“I am Doctor Samuel Johnson. You are not.” So Simon Munnery’s self-important Doctor Johnson introduces himself in this marvellous hour of satire, music and banter, staged as writer Stewart Lee explains, at the Traverse, when “it’s too late to put in another set”.
The main burden of the piece rests on the shoulders of Miles Jupp as James Boswell, who warms the audience up before Johnson arrives, and keeps the action rolling along. In full Bonnie Prince Charlie regalia, he intersperses his enthusiastic enumeration of his mentor’s wit and good qualities with snappy topical material and plenty of inside jokes for the Edinburgh crowd. Jupp is tremendously likeable, and works well both on his own and with Munnery.
The two-handed portion of the piece gets going with Johnson’s many sharp witticisms at the expense of the Scots, which provoke gales of laughter from the audience. Boswell begins by enjoying his idol’s comments, but his increasing frustration with the aspersions cast on his homeland lead to some of the funniest lines of the night. Munnery is perfect as the acerbic wordsmith, wringing the most out of the clever script and challenging anyone to disagree with him.
Stewart Lee has really surpassed himself with Johnson and Boswell, displaying the wry intelligence that has always been the hallmark of his stand-up routines. This thoroughly enjoyable work really demonstrates how to get it right when comedians start acting. Buy your tickets now!
Joycey, readytogo.net
Joycey, readytogo.net
Len Firewood, Twitter
Len Firewood, Twitter
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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John Robins, Comedian
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Zoot Cadillac, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Brighton Argus
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Dan McCaid, Twitter
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Idrie, Youtube
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Bosco239, youtube
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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XPIJONpsY, Twitter
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Stuart, Chortle
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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World Without End, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Spursguy, Youtube
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter