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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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Hiewy, Youtube
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Stuart, Chortle
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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John Robins, Comedian
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk