At Chortle's Fast Fringe

July 2011

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Paul Foot: Still Life
Live Review

‘That was a lot of effort for three laughs,’ says a punter leaving Paul Foot's latest Fringe show. It's a view succinctly put and it get to the heart of this latest display of lunacy from the louche comedian.

Certainly Still Life is not without charm and, by the standards of some previous outings, it's quite tight, almost as tight as the pair of white Seventies-style slacks Foot wears to complete his Rod Stewart chic, along with a leather jacket, a kipper tie and a mullet.

The show starts by not quite starting, Foot ekes out the backstage announcement as much as possible and then comes from behind the curtain to map out what will happen when he actually does make it to the stage for real.

This doesn't happen for a good 20 minutes but in that time he has won the audience over with his OCD-like preparations and his description of the applause he expects to get at certain stages, one level corresponding to how much we would applaud a certain historical event (to give it away would spoil one of the best jokes of the night).

When finally on stage Foot reads some prepared material from postcards, including one half-yarn or ‘glimpse of comedy’, about an accident-prone prostitute. Soon after, he introduces a brilliant time-wasting wheeze, a toy stick horse, that, depending on which way it is held, determines whether Foot will speak English or gobbledygook or a mix of both.

There can be little doubt that Paul Foot has got some front when it comes to wasting the time of his audience, groping around for inspiration or embarking on semi-improvised musings on the virtues of lever arch files. At times prancing and pathetic, at other times eloquent and inspired, the lasting impression of the show is an enjoyable bemusement.

If that can be the case even when you know what he's about, well that must mean he is doing something right, mustn't it?

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In the kinda language he'd probably use, rather a curate's egg... The nervy 'stance' may be a valid persona or just a Woddy-Allenesque excuse to turn a negative into a positive. The desperate gag-explanations may be a neat postmodernist swipe at the genre or just a cop-out to pad out the set. The poncey language can be jolly silly, or it can just get on your tits and distract your attention from the meat of what he's actually trying to say. I enjoyed Paul's set, but it isn't for everyone.

Michael Monkhouse, July 2008

Subversive and strange. You will love it or hate it. I love it. If you hate it, you are wrong. I have seen entire audiences crying with laughter whilst he's on stage. More daring and inventive than seven other comedians put together

Adam Montgomery, September 2007

I saw Paul Foot last night in Edinburgh, and I was enthralled. Beautifully crafted and with a lovely style, if he doesn't hit the big time there's no justice.

White Rabbit, August 2007

I saw Paul on Edinburgh and Beyond on Paramount TV talking about You've Been Framed and the rising cost of Chinese takeaways. He was fantastic - made me a fan in an instant.

Neil, August 2007

I know Paul is not everyones cuppa, but you either get it or you don't. I first saw him several years ago and the jokes, about nothing really, were superb. I shall make a point of visiting him soon.

David, July 2007

Paul's humour was schoolboyish and immature.I felt I was in the middle of a playground row having to listen to the embarassing barrage of insults thrown at a heckler; which seemed to consume most of his act.Perhaps Paul is a scripted comedian who is easily thrown by interaction. For that reason, I would perhaps give him another chance, but I was frankly embarassed for him based on last night's performance.

Noel Potter, November 2006

Saw Paul Foot the other night, was the highlight of the evening! The brilliance of his frustrated rants on small talk, cake, early morning fascists and other such absurdies are absolutely hilarious. Paul Foot is a fantastic individual, and his individuality is something that makes his performance work so well. I love him!

Fiona Kenny, October 2006

Paul Foot brings so much joy into my life! He is such a true individual character. I think that if your expecting the usual sort of standup comedian, then you probably wont get it. I love the way that there is nobody else like him in the whole world. I think he is hilarious and love him eternally. Magic and joy

Fiona Jade Absinthea, August 2006

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