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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Absolute legend

Clare, February 2006

Outstanding - and certainly a refreshing change from the inane vulgarities spewed out by so many present-day comics. Someone who can do political and clever humour as well as this deserves a slot on TV . Someone take a gamble on this friendly Canadian - he's great.

Dave Johnson, February 2006

Awesome

Kirsty, November 2005

Glenn came to the Havana club in Exeter and brought the house down so much, that everyone cheered him back on stage where he did a 40 minute encore. There has never been anything like that at the Havana.

man, September 2005

Absolutely brilliant! At one point I had to try not to listen because my stomach was hurting from laughing!. He got an encore and stayed on for an extra 45 mins.Amazing.

Steve, August 2005

I saw Glen at the Comedy Store. He ripped the place apart, especially how he dealt with a particular heckler. Very entertaining extremely funny guy. Looking forward to the next show.

Sean, June 2005

Glenn's Comedy Lab show "What's The Etory?" should be made into a full feature length series. It's was so hilarious to see a Canadian who I laughed so hard at. This guy was a friggin genius and Channel 4 should recognise that.

Poplok of the Northern Bits, May 2005

The man is sheer brilliance. Last night the crowd were crossing their legs in urinary desperation and smacking their parched drinkless lips but they still called him back for more.

Hazel Davis, May 2005

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