Tonight:
5°c
Bruce Dessau's rating
, Lee Evans sticks to a winning formula
By
Bruce Dessau
7 Oct 2008
Can 80,000 Lee Evans fans be wrong?
The compact Essex clown has just completed four sold-out shows with one more to come, shattering the previous comedy record of two shows set by Chris Rock this year.
Making 16,000 fans a night giggle takes some beating.
It is a shame that at times yesterday the laughs were dwarfed by the scale of the event.
The trouble is that to be this popular one inevitably succumbs to lowest common denominator syndrome.
Evans is the Oasis of stand-up. Huge but rarely groundbreaking.
Thus we get well-thumbed topics — sport,road rage, nagging wives, adverts, phones.
His observation about razors having ridiculous names such as Turbo and Stealth was also made to me by a Broadstairs chemist on Sunday.
Although, unlike Evans, he did not run around like a demented chimp as he said it.
It was the physicality that saved the day. A blind acquaintance recently remarked that he used to love this people’s champion until he lost his
sight and realised that minus the comic contortions and Chaplinesque waddling the gags were pedestrian.
With body and mouth in synch though, there were still some fine moments, such as when he wondered why it is easier to don a coat alone than when someone is helping and then demonstrated the scenario.
Evans bobbed and weaved like a prizefighter
and sweated by the bucketload, but truly knockout punchlines were few and far between.
Topical material extended little beyond a line about Northern Rock and a diatribe against hospitals, which are so plagued by superbugs that “Mrs Mopp is in charge now”.
A joke about being unable to remove CD wrappers felt threadbare in this download age.
It was a reminder that Evans, with his riffs about being henpecked and his sincere “now this is me” musical encore, is strangely old school.
Then again, when he did try something different, such as his quickfire portrait of a relationship from speed date to divorce, he received only polite applause.
The audience wanted new hits that sounded like the old hits or just the old hits.
Evans eventually gave them what they wanted, closing with his much-loved Bohemian Rhapsody mime.
A classic routine in every sense, shame the fresh material could not match it.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (19)
I normally like Lee Evans, but his O2 performance was very poor, just about raised a smirk from me, a lot of it was just old hat, nothing original.
Other peoples comments, suggest to me, that those watching where on Drugs or very drunk, to be entertain by his show.
Had his day IMHO
- John Dowling, Worthing, 29/12/2009 11:58
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Most pathetic thing i have ever had the misfortune to witness.cant stand him,compleate waste of time.glad this was his last EVER tour.
- Katie, west mids, 09/12/2008 16:56
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I saw Lee tonight (Sunday) in Manchester and it has definitely made me want to go again! I've been a fan for a while but this was the first time I've seen him live and it must be said there is nothing like seeing him in the flesh.
What a legend!
I agree with Rachel, I lost count of the amount of time my boyfriend turned to me and whispered "we do that.." It never fails.
I've been reading some criticism about his new material, and of course all people are entitled to their own opinions, yet I fail to see what they're complaining about. It was fresh and just as funny as his faithful subject (for example, his married life).
If he repeated himself and didn't bother trying to come up with new material I'm sure they'd complain yet again...
I thoroughly enjoy the night, and my face was left aching from the amount of laughter.
If you missed his tour then you really missed out...
- Kelly, Liverpool, 17/11/2008 03:26
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I went to see lee evans last night (saturday) at manchester arena and thought he was absolutely brilliant!! This is the first time I've been to see him live although I've got his dvd boxset , It's much better being there, the atmosphere is amazing! I may be being biased because I've always thought lee evans was hilarious, but I strongly recommend the big tour 2008 to all the lee evans fans out there!! If you can get tickets go! cant wait till the next tour!
- Katie, Accrington, 16/11/2008 17:35
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WE ARE GOING TO SEE LEE ON FRIDAY IN MANCHESTER AND WE CANNOT WAIT. ITS OUR 1ST TIME WATCHING HIM LIVE AND BY THE SOUNDS OF THE REVIEWS LEFT, HES FANTASTIC.
- Dawn And John, WREXHAM, WALES, 10/11/2008 22:06
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I saw Lee last night, the third time I have seen him now, and thought that overall it was good. Having seen quite a large number of stand up comedians now I did feel that his show last night was a bit bloated and that a lot of the material could have been left out for a more consistently hilarious night. Some of the stuff just wasn't that funny, but then Lee Evans can generate lughter by laughing at the joke himself afterwards just because he is so endearing. However the second part of the show after the interval was significantly better as Lee explored his favourite and trusty subject, his relationship with his wife. This was genuinely hilarious and although not highly original was very enjoyable.
I really like Lee Evans and do not like to criticise but I think he is too humble sometimes and his continuous 'thankyou's' started to irritate, as did the political musical numbers. However Bohemian Rhapsody is always a delight to watch.
Overall a good show that would be brilliant with a bit stricter quality control with regards to some of the jokes. Also I felt the sound quality in the Brighton Centre was very poor but that is obviously not Lee's fault.
Go see him, you will enjoy yourself guaranteed, and for sheer effort no one can topple Mr Evans.
- Chris, worthing, 10/11/2008 12:52
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Saw Lee Evans last night in Brighton Centre and thought he was brilliant! It was the second time I have seen him and have been almost in tears of laughter on both times. Dont agree with everything that was said in the review above. The whole routine was fantastic and I believe it is the best show yet. Could have happily sat there for another 2 and a half hours listening to him. I would highly recommend anybody to go.
Roll on the next tour!!
- James, Portsmouth, 07/11/2008 14:07
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Saw Lee Evans last night at Wembley and my ribs and cheeks ached by the end - our whole group didn't stop laughing for the whole show! Would go again in a heartbeat - thought the ticket price was excellent for the length of show, he performed for 2 and a half hours. Seems like such a nice bloke too, very humble - kept thanking the audience over and over again for coming (but not in a nauseating pop-star way!). Get tickets if you can.
- Jo Boxall, Guildford, UK, 01/11/2008 11:22
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Lee Evans is amazing, We went to the secc on on the 24th oct and let me tell you that my family and i never stopped laughing, from start to finish. When you consider that our ages ranged from 42 to 10 the whole family thought it was brilliant and we would go again and again in fact my children are already asking when he will do another tour !!!!
He was AWESOME !!!!!!!!!
- Tam King, leven, fife,scotland, 29/10/2008 22:58
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I can not wait till i go and see him this friday. Bought the tickets for me and my boyfriend for his birthday and i actually cannot wait now.
Been reading the reviews and they all sound brilliant and looks like everyone really enjoyed themselves
Its the first time im seeing lee live and i have always been a big fan!
Roll on Friday wooohooo! Xx
- Sarah, Slough, 27/10/2008 13:02
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secc Scotland 24 October is there a better comedian to come out of Britain ,am not sure? Lee was outstanding . Me and the missus could not stop talking about him the next day. loved it 100% value for money will definitely go and see him again. p.s he also gave a girl free tickets because she missed half the show stuck in traffic, what a decent thing to do. Good man
- Gary Stevenson, cumbernauld scotland, 25/10/2008 23:15
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Went to see Lee in Glasgow on 24 th Oct at SECC ..... 1 word..... genius! I didn't think that XL could possibly have been topped but he did it 10 times over with this new material. He truly is the best comedian in the world by far and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of his show, my face is still sore from laughing so much.
Roll on the DVD!
- Linzi Carver, Dunfermline, Scotland, 25/10/2008 13:06
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I saw Lee Evans last night (24/10) at the SECC - I thought it was good without being riotous. Bohemian Rhapsody will always be brilliant and was a fantastic ending, but I found that most of the jokes lacked relevance. The show was saved by the energy and sincerity that he puts through his performance - I found I enjoyed it a lot more when I watched the big screens rather than the stage so I could see every gurn, grin and grimace close up.
- Chris, Glasgow, Scotland, 24/10/2008 15:53
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I saw Lee in Portsmouth on August 27th and had a scream! As usual Lee was fantastic..................... nearly wet myself several times!!
- Juliet Wilmshurst, Portsmouth UK, 13/10/2008 03:05
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This performance cannot be faulted. My wife's contact lenses steamed up where she cried tears of laughter. Lee Evans captures every funny side of simple every day events. The new material was genius whilst sticking to the tried and tested visual comedy that everyone loves. I would go back again and again.
- Gavin, Dartford, UK, 09/10/2008 08:38
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I agree that i believe Bruce was watching a different show?! I watched Lee on the 27th sept at the BIC in Bournemouth (and sourrounding area!) which was one of 6 nights he performed there to a sold out audience. In fact it was origninaly supposed to be just 2 nights but they extended to 6 due to demand. I thought he was outstanding, in fact the only time i didn't laugh was when i was laughing so much at the previous gag i missed what he was talking about next! He started off well and just got better, with the second part of the show making my face literally cramp up. If i had one criticism of the show it would be the musical performance at the end (and im not talking the bohemiam Rapsody routine), it is more clever than funny. I can't wait for the dvd to be released, i need it to catch up on the jokes i missed! All in all, great night out, and would pay again to see the same show.
- Guy Russell, southampton, England, 09/10/2008 00:10
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I have to agree with Katie. I went to the O2 on Friday night and it was amazing. I was laughing all night. His material is so funny as everyone can relate to it. His energy on stage is unbelievable. He engages the crowd and thats why he is so popular. I will forever be an avid fan.
- Rachel Layzell, Essex, Colchester, Essex, 08/10/2008 12:17
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I went along to the o2 Arena on 6th October to see Lee and I have to say his routines never get old. I can easily watch his DVDs over and over without getting bored and yesterday has to have been the best tour I have ever seen - I would pay good money to go and see the same material again! The classic jokes are often the best, and his physicality only extends his ability to throw the crowd into fits of laughter (as it was said, 16,000 can't be wrong). For him to have sold out all 4 shows proves that thousands of people are loyal and will love him for years to come! This type of comedy is popular with so many and I had nothing but fun last night.
- Katie Hayes, Chatham, Kent, England, 07/10/2008 16:49
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Not sure whether you were at the same gig Bruce! One of the best all round comedy performances that I have ever seen and given the size of the venue it was pretty spectacular.
- Richard Maile, Kent, 07/10/2008 15:06
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