Morning:
8°c
Bruce Dessau's rating
Boosh boy goes it alone
By
Bruce Dessau
22 Jan 2008
The Mighty Boosh in shock split? Hardly, yet while Julian Barratt was at home eating curry, his absurdist co-pilot Noel Fielding was flying solo.
Nothing underhand, he was just headlining a Save The Rhino benefit. The animal might be endangered but the Boosh is definitely not threatened with extinction.
Before the bill-topper there was an excellent supporting cast. Vicky Frango offered an update on the Joyce Grenfell School of Posh Stand-Up - all lesbian boarding schools and skiing.
Dan Clark delivered polished thoughts on modern life, concluding that the world would be vastly improved without Facebook dredging up old friends you thought you had shaken off.
After the interval the high standard rose higher. Terrifyingly confident newcomer Jack Whitehall is a shoo-in for stardom when he finds his own voice and shakes off the breathlessly rude Russell Brand-isms. Tom Basden's cute songs about everything from reincarnation to Richard Madeley make him worth seeking out.
Fielding, however, was the main attraction by miles.
The impish figure, resembling an off-duty Goth in black V-neck and drainpipes, had barely explained that he had beer up his nose than the front rows were in a froth. His set was "loose and wonky" but charming, too, even when he had to confront an oaf for heckling, or in Fielding parlance, "shouty-outs".
Following a shaky start the hipster clown dusted off some lovely old material. He impersonated a bluebottle, imagined he had ram's legs and recalled the time he chased a unicorn to the end of the earth only to discover it was a horse with a Cornetto on its nose.
It was not clear how many rhinos Fielding saved last night but you would have to be pretty thick-skinned not to have enjoyed his skittish flights of fancy.
• www.savetherhino.org.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (5)
Buxton and Gervaise can't be compared because everything about them is totally different. It's not that one's better than the other; some people like one and not the other, that's all.
- Lex, London, UK, 01/02/2008 03:50
Report abuse
Didn't get Adam Buxton at all, I laughed occasionally but like James said he deserves credit for opening the show.
I agree the night took off after the interval, Jack Whitehall was brilliant and I intend to seek him out at future gigs, he's really worth checking out.
It was the first time I'd seen Noel live (well flying solo, I saw him at the tct gig last March with Russell Brand) and was so excited when I found out he was doing a gig because it seems a rare treat lately. Me and my mate got ourselves front row seats and enjoyed every moment of it.
Sure the jokes aren't new and shiny but there is always recognition from the fans who love them all the same because they're never told the same way twice, Noel is the master of improv.
The heckler was clearly bemused by it all as fans cheered the beginning of jokes that had barely started.
Overall a great night.
- Leah, London. England, 01/02/2008 00:15
Report abuse
You are a Buxton omitter! For shame.
- Adam B., London, 29/01/2008 04:39
Report abuse
Buxton was omitted because he isn't funny. He's chubby, he wears a beard but that's not enough. He has a small coterie of mad fans (like James) who think he's Michelangelo. He sees himself in the great comic tradition but no one else does. Somewhere it says on his blog full of 'gammy hamlets' - Buxtonian wordplay at its best!) that he replaced Ricky Gervais at XFM - as if his podcasts could ever measure up to the casual scripted brilliance of Gervais. He needs to write jokes!
He isn't an actor and can't improvise, all he has is an exaggerated chuckle which is meant to fool his listeners that he's having a great time. OK the guy needs to live but can't he open a pet shop or film weddings?
- Sue, London, 28/01/2008 21:51
Report abuse
Your review has completely omitted the contributions of Adam Buxton, who gave us some of his ever-improving "Famous Guy" character; do you understand me now?
While Dan Clark and Noel Fielding were clearly the highlights of the evening, it would be a crime not to give credit to Adam for starting the show.
- James, London, 23/01/2008 13:14
Report abuse
