Stewart Lee has been touring the appallingly-titled ‘Room With A Stew’ show so long his agents obviously thought it safe to slip in a second date at Warwick Arts Centre a year after the first, perhaps relying on the punters’ memories being as useless as their ability to grasp his convoluted brand of stand-up – something the comedian regularly chastises them for.
The tour has been a way to hone and road test material for a new run of his Comedy Vehicle TV show, but while that date 12 months ago showed very much a work in progress, the fourth series is now in the can so this latest performance was much closer to the finished product.
Whether Lee really has a finished product is a moot point.
The set certainly never felt like it – and the comic would baulk at the notion of putting on the same sort of polished routine as the panel-show stars he habitually mocks – but the meticulous construction of his layered material offers damning evidence to the contrary.
Simultaneously intelligent and absurd, he takes logical thoughts – on topics ranging from wealth and patriotism to missing out on a BAFTA and urine – to illogical conclusions.
Lee truly comes into his own when he deconstructs (and often destructs) it all again.
Some elements didn’t quite hit the mark, and the passive-aggressive stance and contempt for the audience shtick are definitely starting to wear a bit thin, but Lee remains the UK’s boldest and most original comedian.
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Joycey, readytogo.net