At the 201 Glasgow Comedy Festival

More David Longley videos

David Longley: No Going Back – Fringe 2009
Live Review

Dave Longley delivers his show speaking softly, without microphone, while sitting down. High-energy, it’s not – but the intimate setting in the tiny Stand 4 does draw the audience towards him, making them lean in to hear his thoughtful material.

Yin Yang philosophy, attitudes towards people with Down’s Syndrome and the responsibilities of fatherhood are examined, alongside more obvious comedy subjects as anal beads and coprophilia, the deriving of sexual pleasure from pooh.

With such measured but assured performance and his mixing of the sublime and the banal around a considered central argument, Longley could almost be a white Reginald D Hunter.

The topic he’s chosen, decisions and their consequences, is universal. Everything we do, is something we decided to do, so he’s not exactly limiting his options with that as a theme. But, after the impressive profanity-laced opener about the grammar of swearing, the disparate routines are weaved seamlessly together into a monologue that flows easily around his subjects.

Longley’s own decisions come under the spotlight, too, with the frankest insights coming when he considers his impending fatherhood, two months ago, which raised questions of abortion and how to raise his children, as well as evoking memories of the taunting he suffered in his own youth because of a condition that affected his penis. Yes, it is that honest.

Longley largely does the below-the-belt stuff with a quiet intelligence, although he did revel in the disgusting images thrown up on that coprophilia routine which, with a different delivery, would seem more at home in a rowdy late-night club than this otherwise thought-provoking hour. On the other end of the spectrum, there are moments that end up being a little too slow when discussion overtakes punchlines as the primary objective.

But this 30-year-old mostly charts a steady course between those extremes, producing a solid hour of interesting material. It’s hard to think it’s the same act who just two years ago found himself in the eye of a media storm because of an ill-judged Madelaine McCann gag. This is so much smarter than that, and so much smarter than the average Fringe show.

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How appalling that he should try and get a laugh out of these dreadful cases. He should be ashamed of himself and making an apology or giving a donation is not enough. What a sad man!

jean, September 2007

If the media hadn't told you, you wouldn't have cared. All credit to Dave Longley. You can all sod off with your moral panic.

Mr. P, September 2007

It seems Mr Longley has made the newspapers for making exceptionally insensitive comments about subjects very close to our hearts - namely kids who are no longer where they should be. I think a career change is in order, and fast.

RD, September 2007

After the so-called jokes about little Madeline and Rhys I think he is one sick bastard. Bar him

All of us, September 2007

The most over rated act in Manchester. Arrogant, smug and unfunny

rob mac, May 2007

Had the entire audience beating the floor in laughter. Headliner of the future.

Andy G, October 2006

He is stuck in the mindset of a seedy adolescent - disturbing - not funny

Rosie Pocklington, May 2006

I've seen Dave twice now, and was very impressed each time with both the material and the delivery. I think he'll go places. Geoff Taylor 19.11.04

Geoff Taylor, November 2004

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