Satirical bullseyes from Lewis Schaffer

There were frequent moments when this test-flight for new material looked like soaring. During a brisk routine on the complexities of race issues following the US election, for example, he hit a number of satirical bullseyes. Elsewhere his middle-aged Jewish New Yorker schtick beautifully captured both the neuroses of Woody Allen and the infectious cadences of Jackie Mason. Yet, too often, his train of thought was thoroughly derailed and he went way off-topic.

Something interesting is clearly going on here. Schaffer undeniably has funny bones, he just lacks discipline. As delightful as it was to learn of his prostate problems, this was probably not part of the planned set. He was much better when he channelled his frustrations and angst into exploring the differences between Brits and Americans. He wants more chums, he confessed, but he has only lived here for eight years and repressed Brits take nine years to make a new friend.

Schaffer also clearly enjoys doing dark comedy when the mood takes him, tossing in the odd Holocaust grenade here and Shannon Matthews bombshell there, and seems to revel in winding up his audience to get an angry response.

It feels at times as if he is determined to sabotage his own show. He would be infinitely funnier if he provoked less and focused more, though probably a lot less fascinating.

Lewis Schaffer's Show
City Noise (Formerly The Source Below)
Brewer Street, W1F 9TY