THE premise of the uncategorisable comedian’s latest foray into provincial theatres is that he shares his stage with a tough-talking right-wing American werewolf comedian from the dark forests of his subconscious who hates humanity.

Thus Stewart Lee vs The Man-Wulf takes the form of a challenge to the ‘culturally irrelevant and physically enfeebled’ Lee to reclaim his stand-up crown by slaying the beast (inside us all) with a silver bullet after a period in the doldrums as he approaches 60, finds his TV profile diminished and his style of comedy obsolete.

Hardly the case really, with both nights at Lighthouse sold out, but let’s play along. This tour, incidentally, which has been in progress for months and goes on until mid-November then recommences in February, with the house full signs up at many venues across the country.

The trouble with such a long running show is that material dates – the Captain Tom stuff particularly – and Hulk Hogan, named in one riff about the right, had died since the show was written.

Lee is very much a Marmite comedian; there is no middle ground. It took me a while to appreciate his style – minutely dissecting his art while playing the morally superior metropolitan liberal railing against the world for not comprehensively appreciating his talents – but once you’re in his camp that’s it.

It’s all in the hesitation, deviation and repetition, the pauses, the looks, the running commentary about his act – and in this case, in a show in three parts – ‘normal’ Lee, his imaginary alter ego and a mash-up of the two – plus a massive, uncomfortable-looking werewolf costume thrown in for good measure.

He comes on in a flowery shirt, too tight jeans and boots, explaining what the show will be all about – the only way is ethics – and that this being his first performance for three months would necessitate some reading from prompt cards.

Lee goes off, returning quickly in a long teddy boy drape jacket and proceeds with six jokes, in the process dissing his audience – ‘not really aimed at you, this joke’ and getting in digs at the likes of Kevin Bridges, Russell Brand, Michael McIntyre, Jimmy Carr, Gregg Wallace and Ricky Gervais.

He did a lovely routine about jokes misrepresenting the rules of grammar, bantered with a largely unimpressive front row, sat on a stool and went off on a long routine about the goings on at an exhibition of works by the Irish artist Ithell Colquhoun.

Then the mists came down and he was swallowed by the darkness.

For part two he was the Man-Wulf, emerging, singing to boogie music in front of a city scape background. He vocalised, obnoxiously, in a manner that was a cross between Rich Hall and Iggy Pop talking about things he hated as a right-leaning libertarian comedian.

He also appeared somewhat perturbed that this all got the biggest laugh of the evening, but with Lee you can be sure of nothing, even as to whether all the first night glitches were part of the show (most certainly were, but all of them?). There was even some physical comedy involving him trying to get on his stool in the costume.

Eventually he shed the costume and analysed what had gone on before just wearing shorts, a tee-shirt and his Man-Wulf feet. Then he ended, playing acoustic guitar and parodying Bod Dylan’s voice through the ages.

“Does this look like a midlife crisis to you?” Yes, but a hilarious one

It’s all a long way from Lee & Herring.