Reasons for divorce

Edinburgh 2008

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Nominated for best headliner in the 2008 Chortle awards.

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Glenn Wool: No Lands' Man
Live Review

It’s possibly the biggest topic in comedy: having a digit shoved up your anus. Between diagnostic medicine, sexual experimentation and – in Glenn Wool’s case – overzealous border guards, it’s hard to keep track of how many male stand-ups have found themselves in this predicament.

But finding himself butt-naked in an tiny room in an Indonesian airport, an occupational hazard when you resemble a member of a ‘Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band’, Wool was not humiliated, but smug, as, in the very moment the official snapped his glove into place, happy memory flickered across his mind. For the purposes of this triumphant UK comeback, Wool puts up a few suggestions of what fond recollection could have hit him at that moment.

Yes, as a framing device it’s hardly the most elegant, but when you’ve got an arsenal of road stories as devastatingly hilarious as these, to hell with structure. These are the highlights from the two years since he was last here, when he left in a bid to crack America. But he also got around the globe quite a bit in the intervening months.

Of course, being a comedian grants certain perks, like getting a stage pass to an Iron Maiden concert or – surely equally as awesome – a VIP after-hours admissions to the Napier aquarium in New Zealand.

Wool is a superlative storyteller; and lest you think that means a quietly whimsical geek speaking quietly of romanticised yarns, think again. Wool is a big, forthright, Canadian bear of a man with the sort of bold yarns that could be barked out after a gallon of beer in an isolated bikers’ pub. But, to counter that, they are told with a subversive playfulness, a winning dollop of self-deprecation and goggle-eyed incredulity. With his rock-and-roll charisma exerting perfect control, and perfect sense of comic phrasing in his yarns, Wool has a potent combination.

Much of the material is, as he happily admits, the sort of stuff that’s kept him off the Michael McIntyre roadshow. But although the content can be strong, it’s also way more nuanced than just heading for the worst. The only thing that doesn’t quite work out is him pondering whether to help semi-aquatic rodents in trouble, though it did open the door for more gruesomely memorable images from the animal world.

Away from the core yarns, Wool has some strong gags on American stereotyping, Osama Bin Laden, ‘appropriate vagina euphemisms’ and, with hilarious stupidity, his ad-hoc attempt to make up a language.

All in all, No Lands’ Man goes to cement Wool’s reputation as one of the premiership players on the world comedy stage. Even if he never did crack America, Hollywood’s loss is our gain.

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The best standup comedian ever, in my humble opinion.

Ash Penney, April 2007

Watched him perform the Laughter for Life Charity gig on March 4. Amazing. Had some of the biggest laughs of the night.

Luke, March 2007

My first time at a comedy club, and if they're all like Glenn Wool I'm definitely going again. Brilliant!

Rory Lewis, October 2006

I've seen the hilarious Mr Wool several times. By far the best, seemingly effortless, comedy we'd seen for a while. If you get a chance, go see this guy - and be prepared to laugh til you feel sick!

Lisa, October 2006

Dear K Morgan, sorry to hear about the internal organs. your fears are justified. I am trying to kill you but sadly it was for your internal organs. you see, I know this orphan and she's really sick and she has the same blood type as you and well i just figured that your heart would be much better off in her rather than you. watch your back Morgan, I'm after you

glenn wool, September 2006

Saw Glenn Wool this summer at the Ed Fringe and nearly left with internal bleeding from various organs. He's got a great rapport with the audience and a well-developed idea of what actually MAKES things funny and he plays off that in a clever way. I especially enjoyed the special surprise at the end of his show, "You Don't Go to Hell for Eating Elephants", which was a sack full o'something naughty.

K Morgan, September 2006

Funny as F@@k, really impressive from start to finish

Ben Tinkler, July 2006

Saw Glenn at an unfortunately poorly attended gig at Opus Manchester on June 10. However this didn't stop him from being one of the funniest comedians I have ever seen (and i've seen a few!) This man is a comic genius! Me and my lady-friend couldn't breathe through laughing at some points during his set. We want him back in Manchester as soon as possible and we want him to play the packed houses he deserves

Andy, July 2006

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