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Neil McFarlane Neil McFarlane

Looking somewhat like a young Eric Idle, Neil McFarlane sometimes announces himself as a ‘posh Glaswegian’, as if such a thing was previously unheard-of, but it’s the lever he needs for some predictable spiel about not fitting the city’s hardman stereotype.

In fitting with that image, his delivery is cool and aloof – and he knows it. ‘Next slide please,’ he deadpans as if addressing a tedious middle-management conference, perfectly mocking his own style.

In material, he’s not especially exciting, but the confidence of years means he proves amiable company. But the delivery is uneven. He can take forever saying very little or - in apparent contradiction - he can also take a topic and string a crippling weight of jokes onto it, fearing that any opportunity for a gag shouldn’t be wasted. Problem is, there’s no quality control and the effect of such a deluge of poor-quality lines is to dilute, rather than enhance.

Where he does score well, however, is with material based on his day job at the BBC Complaints Department. Here he seizes the chance to mercilessly tease the complainants in a way he presumably can’t do in the office. Although inconsistent, his best writing is offbeat, showing a clear ability to craft a joke. But then he drops the ball with a few clunky gags, too, and his callbacks seem awkwardly shoehorned in for their own sake, rather than emerging subtly and naturally.

Date of review: Sep 2006

Where can I see Neil McFarlane next?

When: 20:30 - Wednesday 28th May, '08
Venue: Edinburgh Stand
Prices: £6 (£5 concs)
Info: Best Of Scottish
Comics: Bruce Fummey, Dougie Dunlop, Neil McFarlane, Vladimir McTavish (MC)
When: 19:45 - Sunday 1st Jun, '08
Venue: Stockport Blue Cat Cafe
Prices: £5
Info: Plus Mel Moon
Comics: Alun Cochrane, Danny Deegan, Neil McFarlane
When: 20:30 - Tuesday 3rd Jun, '08
Venue: Manchester XS Malarkey
Prices: £5 (£2 members)
Info: Plus Jonathan Hope
Comics: Kerry Leigh, Neil McFarlane, Toby Hadoke (MC)
When: 21:00 - Friday 6th Jun, '08
Venue: Leeds Royalty
Prices: £5
Info: Plus Tony Basnett.
Comics: Neil McFarlane, Steve Day, John Cooper (MC)
When: 20:30 - Monday 9th Jun, '08
Venue: Edinburgh Stand
Prices: £2
Info: Red Raw. New Act Night.
Comics: Neil McFarlane (MC)
 
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Neil McFarlane's Shows: Edinburgh Fringe 2006Neil McFarlane: A Distinct PossibilityMisc live showsScottish Comedian Of The Year 2006

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