Comedy Store May 09

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Geoff Norcott The Shocking Truth About Men And Women Fringe 2009
Live Review

The difference between men and women is a subject that makes both critics and comedians flinch. Critics often jump on unsuccessful attempts to breathe new life into it by claiming that it should be left alone while comics defend their right to explore it.

The softly spoken ex-teacher Geoff Norcott must have known he had to put a new spin on it, which he has tried to do that by imparting some little known facts. So, for example did you know that a man has enough sperm to make every woman in Europe pregnant? Or that testosterone is bad for the immune system? No? Good. Not knowing these things will help you enjoy the show more.

It’s sad that while care and attention has clearly been shown in putting this show together it lacks any real oomph. It doesn’t help that the house lights are still up more than they should be (the second Fringe show I have been in where this has occurred) but the real problem is the meek, almost demur way in which Norcott delivers his material.

It’s not that he throws his punch lines away, it’s more that he places them gently down next to you and hopes that you like them.

Given this soft touch it’s hard to believe, perhaps, that Norcott was once a presenter on Nuts TV, the loosely related offshoot of the notorious ladmag. His stint on the channel is a jumping-off point from which Norcott can demonstrate some new man credentials: repenting for a joke he made on air that was perceived as too misogynistic, building observations that merely gently stereotype the sexes and then ultimately letting women come out on top when he reveals who his true role model is.

Let’s not beat about the bush, though. One of the main, if not shocking, differences between men and women is that men have balls, something which this show could do with before it can evolve.

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Lovely Geoff is now a LOT better than this review suggests. He's top quality , both his material and his audience skills are superb. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Paul Sinha, May 2008

Absolutely brilliant, funny, caring, even as a small boy he kept the room laughing, but I do have a bias - I'm his mum. Even so, he is brilliantly funny.

Mum, November 2007

Very very very (did I say very?) good. As a first time comedy night organiser I wanted a headliner I could trust. Having seen Geoff perform before I simply had to get him on board. He didn't let me down.

Ryan Chapman, May 2007

Geoff has performed at Bistro L!VE venues three times now and on each occassion has gone down a storm. The audiences at our venues are never the easiest to win over but he does so with ease.

Richard Herrington, October 2006

Ive seen Geoff a couple of times recently and he was fantastic. There was one gig which I thought would be unplayable but he went on and ripped it up good style. Fantastic stuff, one of the good guys one the circuit.

Barry Dodds, October 2006

Saw him last night in Cambridge and laughed all night, he's a naturally funny bloke with a lot of intelligent stuff to say. He had a total wanker in the front row who kept heckling him for no apparent reason but he dealt with him well and had a hilarious off the cuff put down for every moronic comment the idiot came out with.

Nik, August 2006

Appeared at The Walnut Tree Maidstone last night, confident, loud and fresh. Appeared to get bogged down with the weird hecklers but he dealt with them beautifully, loved the sponteneity

Graham Fearon, January 2006

Turned a deathly Christmas party crowd into a dream audience last night, masterful. Not only a really wide range of material but top notch spontaneity dealing with anything that comes from the room.

Kev F, December 2005

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