 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Unfortunately I do not remember the first topic of conversation chosen by Russell to open the show.
What I do remember, and probably so does Russell, is the slightly inebriated dark haired lady sitting front row with a couple of girlfriends, who took it upon herself [only she and her God know why], to point at Russell’s crotch, laugh and comment aloud “it’s all squashed!”
With Russell only standing a couple of yards from us there was no misunderstanding, this blow was below the belt and it must have hurt.
Russell’s reaction to a room full of people laughing, not at his comic timing and well written witty jokes but his genitalia, was the kind of comedy we had just paid to see.
Mr Brand turned the situation into an improvised opening sketch, where he managed to make fun of himself and explain that he decided to wear girl’s skinny jeans [that would explain it all] as an homage to his stylish musician friend Carl Barat of Dirty Pretty Things, also wearer of the aforementioned garment.
The eagle-eyed lady wouldn’t stop interrupting the show and was promptly seated in the ‘naughty chair’, in a dark corner of the room by ‘an eager to get the evening rolling’ performer.
Actually Russell started as he meant to carry on, as of course most of the show was about sex.
A personal recollection of some of his most outrageous encounters, some involving Cadbury’s chocolate Mini eggs or Champney’s health farm’s Jacuzzi but none for the prude.
But to be fair is wasn’t all about carnal pleasures.
Russell made fun of his presenting of the NME music awards with the required amount of name dropping: He is not just one of the hardest working stand-up comedians right now, he’s also really Rock’n Roll.
Like all the best people in his chosen trade Russell has mastered the art of self-deprecation to its best effect.
Subjects were far and wide and Brand ended the show going through a newspaper’s readers letters, showing that we really are surrounded by a bunch of comedians.
I had not laughed so genuinely in a long time and left the theatre totally exhausted. Russell’s honesty regarding personal matters, like his past heavy drinking or drugs using, makes for some very moving, touching moments, helped by the small, intimate setting of the Hen & Chickens theatre, where he is a regular entertainer.
To quote Brand’s catch phrase, If you must have an opinion about this show, let it be that it’s really two hours well spent, laughing, cringing, laughing like never before and I will be back.
Russell is clearly destined for bigger and better things, and now is the time to catch one of his live shows, while he is still willing to perform for a very small audience, and before he gets to the big, impersonal venues.
Words: Florence ACHERY
www.russellbrand.com
www.myspace.com/russellbrand |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
