On pub nicknames

At the 2012 Leicester Comedy Festival preview

More Chris McCausland videos

Chris McCausland: Fringe 2012
Live Review
Pleasance Courtyard

This is mild mannered, cosy, and insufferably boring. McCausland is likeable, but he has a self-confessed lack of stage presence. The rhythm wasn't there even if a lot of ideas and potential were.

The set started with a segment about successive failed school nativities, each of relied on visualising increasingly awkward moments. The stories were of the funny childhood nostalgia variety, but delivered with all the energy of a paraplegic sloth.

The set was sluggish, unbearably so, like watching chronic fatigue sufferer run the marathon. Time slowed down and I started to forget life before the show. Then came a 25 minute rant about the Paralympics being effectively pointless. McCasuland, who is blind, made a good argument, and then made it again, and again, and then a weaker variation on the same theme. Lather, rinse, repeat.

The never-ending rehash, like a softly-spoken broken record on loop, may have been therapeutic self-justification, or maybe he didn't think the audience were invested in the premise. We weren't, but it was less a lack of understanding and more abject apathy as the set slowly slid into a ditch.

Heartfelt musings on social issues are perfectly fine if they're wrapped up in jokes; going several minutes without any is in danger of no longer being comedy. Having five audience members leave in as many minutes, with those remaining nodding in solidarity, is a near-fatal blow to this kind of performance.

There was potential for an tour-de-force of original material about false sympathy for the disabled, showbiz box-ticking, and harsh truths about the nature of ambition. Instead, we get a sinking ship of  repetitive rants that leave you exhausted.

Skip to page: 1 | 2 | 3

Dont know what show the reviewer saw but I saw him couple of days ago and thought the show was brilliant, refreshing, interesting and controversial. Went after reading a five star review so just goes to show how subjective this all is! Was blown away and have been a comedy lover for many years coming up to the festival for years. A must see.

Ben Albukirk, August 2012

Saw Chris at the Leicester Comedy Festival last week and I must say he stole the show for me. Will be keeping an eye (not a pun) for him in the future.

John conners, January 2012

I watched Chris in Dunstable last night. Never laughed so much in ages. Best act of the night. A must see for all.

Andy, March 2011

Seen Chris a few times over the past few years - VERY funny guy! Always got the crowd (and me) in bits. A must see.

Brendan, December 2010

A poor weak act! This was one long twenty minutes. Mr Very Ordinary. Compare and contrast with Steve Day in the disability stakes. Day uses his hearing impairment to devilish effect. Perhaps Chris really does need to show us the world through his eyes?

Stephen Hobbs, January 2010

When he's on a roll he has some excellent material and his routine hangs together really well. There was some wonderful stuff about the perils of lighting a cigarette when drunk. It'll be interesting to see how he develops and whether he puts in the work to refine his performance. Very engaging stage presence with great potential - certainly one to watch.

Stan, May 2007

Competent, affable comedian who seems to fit in very easily with his audience. He has a great down-to-earth manner that belies his disability, to which he only occasionally refers in his set. Worth watching

Alain English, March 2007

Had the pleasure of gigging with Chris last weekend , and he is certainly an affable and extremely funny comic. Tip for the top.

Paul Sinha, January 2007

Skip to page: 1 | 2 | 3