At Chortle's Fast Fringe

July 2011

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Paul Foot: Still LIfe
Live Review
Melbourne International Comedy Festival

It is Paul Foot’s sincere aim to present his ‘most professional show ever’, and despite all chaotic evidence to the contrary, this intensely deranged hour might be just that.

For although this modern-day lord of misrule causes pandemonium wherever he prowls, it turns out that there’s a hidden structure behind every extravagant strangeness, making the show more rewarding than the series of disjointed, manically surreal rants that it might otherwise be.

He is keen to make a good impression. Not only does he want to entertain, but he tells us the venue management have ‘had words’ about his behaviour towards both the audience and their technical staff. Such expectations heap pressure on him to perform… and he’s not so good under pressure.

That’s why he gets a little carried away with the offstage introduction – and even when he finally does emerge from his cubby-hole, it’s not the entrance he’d planned. Never mind, what a perfect excuse for a pre-show run-through to make sure everything will run smoothly once the comedic musings get properly under way…

The gap between his obsessive perfectionism and the reality is where the madness lies. Like Basil Fawlty, Foot’s frustrations with his own flaws fuel his insanity. As he lurches around the auditorium, screeching out his plans, the nervous tension builds up dangerously, occasionally releasing itself with an explosion of windmilling arms, spasming legs and manic head jerks. But still the outspurtings of insanity continue. Even simple instructions as to the level of applause he wants turns into an absurd and lengthy distraction about celebrity animal husbandry.

This wild unpredictability brings a genuine frisson to a large room, released in frequent bursts of incredulous laughter. The fool with the odd hair and odder dress sense is playing us like a maestro.

After the pre-show madness crescendos, he finally takes to the stage to present his comedic bon mots. Not jokes, but ‘glimpses’ – brief, witty scenes, obliquely described, allowing the audience to jump to their own punchlines. Although sometimes, Foot adds explanation to illuminate the way.

Then there’s an interlude from his alter ego Penny, which proves that both sides of Foot’s split personality are equally unhinged; while an audience game with a horse’s head on a stick, proves an inspired device to bring proceedings to an hilarious conclusion.

Absurdity is a hard thing to get right, and although there are segments of stupidity here that slightly outstay their welcome or don’t quite hit home, Foot is homing in on the perfect eccentric show, year-on-year. It makes him a must-see for seekers of the unconventional.

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Have not willed a show to end before. Just not my thing others in the audience seemed to though. Shame as had high hopes.

Daws, April 2012

Saw him do Set List in Nottingham, and for me he was both a revelation and the stand-out act of a distinguished bill. The pacing was excellent: he clearly thought things through before launching out into his impro, but at the same time was doing little comedy bits, to keep the audience happy, while his mind was working overtime to create a routine. Very imaginative, very funny.

Geoff F, February 2012

One of the funniest and most original comedians in the world. He is a wonderful, uplifting act and his Edinburgh show this year was terrific. Those who do not enjoy him must lack imagination and be dead inside

Matt, October 2011

People seem to love him or hate him, I'm in the latter category, he's not remotely funny, his humour is idiotic especially the horse head gibberish thing and the part where he pretends to be a women. Couldn't wait for the show to end!

Rory, October 2011

Paul Foot. Well very hit and miss and my real criticism of the show is that the 'gibberish' part with the horse's head was intrinsically an excuse for a lack of real material. I know Paul has been busy gigging but I wish (Pre-Edinburgh) he would have really put some proper time into writing at least 55 minutes of material, I think he genuinely wrote twenty - shame as he has some real potential BUT that seems to be the case now for quite a few years. At Edinburgh 2012 I expect/hope to see Paul finally reach his potential.

WB, October 2011

Worst comic I have ever had the misfortune to see. It didn't feel like he actually knew what he was doing. At one point he was playing some sort of game whereby the holder of a toy could decide whether he spoke in gibberish or English while he did improv according to audience suggestions. Fine when we couldn't understand him and he was speaking gibberish (although this quickly became tiresome), but when he had to continue his improv in English, he had nothing interesting to say. 99% of his jokes were boring and lacked any sophistication. The intro was drawn out and uninspiring. I wish I had asked for my money back.

Lydia, August 2011

Saw Paul last night, very poignant. I loved the show, not every one will, but that's not a bad thing, very adventurous. I agree with Paul Foot's comment!

Stevie, January 2011

Wonderfully original and brilliant, Paul Foot is.

Higgeldy Piggeldy, January 2011

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