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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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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