TV’s Frankie Boyle has declared that no-one over 40 should do stand-up, as the old comedians lose their edge and their anger. Stewart Lee is 42 and Frankie’s heartless Scottish words have made him wonder if it’s worth carrying on.
Undaunted, the furiously baffled comedian tries to win round the legendarily harsh Glasgow audience with a crowd-pleasing Mcintyre-style routine about coffee shops, but is distracted by scores of imaginary pirates; he tries to talk about every day middle aged men’s concerns, but is drawn into a forty minute rant against Top Gear and all it stands for; he attempts to find some common ground with happy childhood memories that he and the audience can share, but is instead consumed with loathing and despair as a result of a Magners’ Cider advertising campaign.
He screams from the balconies, stumbles in the aisles, and ends with a country and western song. If You Prefer A Milder Comedian Please Ask For One is a vast and all-consuming epic of stand-up comedy, exploring the absolute formal limits of the art form.
There are also some jokes.
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FBC, finalgear.com
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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John Robins, Comedian
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Stuart, Chortle
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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World Without End, Twitter
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Carcrazychica, Youtube