“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!
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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World Without End, Twitter
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Bosco239, youtube
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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John Robins, Comedian
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Stuart, Chortle
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Brighton Argus
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Tres Ryan, Twitter