At the 201 Glasgow Comedy Festival

More David Longley videos

David Longley: Fringe 2012
Live Review
Stand 2

My Favourite Things is comedian David Longley’s take on cognitive dissonance, the state of juggling two different impulses. If that sounds too much for an afternoon comedy show, don’t worry, it all kicks off with an animation.

Animated is, incidentally, something that Longley is not. This Derby lad has a very measured demeanour that feels competent and comfortable without ever being fully engaging, so it always seems like he has an extra level to go. Nevertheless, Longley imposes a steady discipline on this hour to get him through material that could arguably have spawned two or more shows.

He kicks off with defining cognitive dissonance. Wikipedia cites those who like to smoke but know it will kill them. Longley focuses on being in love, but being bored in a relationship. From this he sounds out his audience on what they might constitute as cheating. Text sex? A lap dance? Oral sex? The audience quickly establish that they have boundaries and Longley makes it clear that he doesn’t. Well, he’s the comedian, after all.

With the occasional recourse to PowerPoint, Longley traces mental dislocation between perception and reality through his excitable child, then his ‘idiot’ parents, his racist Indian friend and then finally his grandfather, a man free of regrets because he has apparently done nothing with his life. With the latter example, a key moment of cognitive dissonance comes when Longley divorces the pain of knowing that Alzheimer’s is killing his grandfather with an appropriately (or inappropriately, depending on your tastes) titled disco track.

The closing sequence on his grandfather could be almost be another show, in fact the previous sequence about his Indian friend is rich enough to stand alone too. This is a testimony to the content, of course, so it’s curious as to why the show doesn’t gel more.

You can’t say that Longley hasn’t delivered an interesting theme and he’s given some great examples to show his working. However, he’s left the conclusion in the hands of his most emotive anecdote and a short film that tries to tie the loose ends up is no substitute for him asserting his prevailing view.

Because of his grandfather’s Alzheimer’s, Longley extols the importance of taking photographs. Conversely though, if the comic ditched most of his visual aids (though not the opening animation –that’s a winner) he’d be forced to engage more with his audience and maybe allow this show to make more of a deserved impression.

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Hare and Hounds tonight, very funny,would recommend,could build up to be much bigger than he is in terms of the breadth of his material

M, October 2011

Very clever and funny. The first time I saw it. Seriously, good material, but it's like a set script and I saw him the first time ages ago. By all means go and see him- just don't bother going a second time.

Al, November 2010

So funny it didn't almost hurt, it actually hurt! Played the room so well, if you get chance go and see this guy. Fucking brilliant

guy thomas, March 2010

A joke really is just a joke please people some proportion here.

Rob, August 2008

The first act I saw when I came to Manchester and I still reckon he's one of the finest.

Eleanor, January 2008

Very poor. Offensive and unfunny. I'd avoid any bill he's on in the future.

Carol M, November 2007

Comedian makes a joke. In a comedy club. People don't like it. Some people do. Most don't care. He could've said balls to people. He didn't. He said sorry. I think that is the end of it? he wasn't the 1st. he won't be the last. Perspective people! Joke! No harm!

Louise, October 2007

Brilliant comic. Every comedian makes a bad call. He apologised. Let's get over it.

miss e, September 2007

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