Bono

From Laughs In The Parks 2011

More Ross Noble videos

CV

Ross Noble: Things in the West End
Live Review
Apollo Theatre

To call Things a consistent, easily definable show would be to grossly misunderstand how Ross Noble works. Other than the set – a giant inflatable four-headed chimera – this West End run bears little resemblance to the tour that first went out on the road this spring.

However, that is not the result of gradual evolution over the months. The flighty Geordie is known for improvising vast swathes of his act from night to night depending on what, or more likely, who, sparks his fertile imagination. It gives each performance a special feel, knowing that the material is quite unrepeatable outside this specific moment in space and time.

Not that unscripted spontaneity is used to excuse feeble gags, however, as Noble turns over as many good ideas in one night as most comics do in a year. Tonight, most of his mind-spews are sparked by modest Mika in the front row, coyly hiding her mouth behind a veil of chiffon every time she’s spoken to. It sets in motion a rich train of thought about ‘convertible Muslims’, more silly than contentious, though Noble has some fun with the slight frisson mere mention of a burkha invokes. E

Further exploration reveals his temporary muse is – comedy gods be praised – a dog psychologist, which sparks a very quick-witted one-liner. But Noble avoids the temptation to dwell on the topic too long after extracting the initial laughs. Whether that’s out of concern for focussing too much on a reluctant punter is open for debate; his brain leaps around like a peripatetic flea with restless leg syndrome, and it’s unlikely he can focus on anything for too long. And, besides, there are more laughs to be had with her companion, and his job with the Fair Trade movement.

Noble’s attention deficiency means you can’t expect closure on all of his routines. Although he often recalls where he was before some detour takes him woefully off-topic, he equally as likely won’t, and will march on with restless enthusiasm for the next new thing.

So we’re whisked wildly around topics from Star Wars’s Boba Fett to Wilson, Keppel and Betty; from Dragon’s Den’s Duncan Ballantyne, to Mr Potato Head. He has the attention span of the YouTube generation, and a childish urge to fool around in word and deed, simply because it’s funny, free of the responsibility of consequences. Traits that hamper him in the real world are an asset for devil-may-care comedy.

The few set pieces he does deliver include imagining Jesus with flat-pack furniture, which remains lightly funny despite laying on the blatant surrealism a bit thick, and a witty tale of his ill-fated attempts to propose in Epping forest, contrasting his klutzy efforts with the suaveness with which one punter achieved the same deed. It’s a rare, but welcome, bit of personal comedy in a show which otherwise treats major incidents, such as losing everything he owned in the Australian bush fires or the birth of his first daughter, Elf, as purely incidental.

Everything is delivered with a youthful energy verging on fanaticism, even if watching him pace around, forever tracing an imaginary square on the stage floor, can be dizzying.

One thing that does, thankfully, appear to have been dropped is the convention of fans leaving gifts on the stage during he interval, which invariable led to an indulgent second-half which excluded those who didn’t get the in-jokes. Here, Noble is undiluted.

Even those who might think they don’t like the sort of flights of fancy in which Noble specialises should find something amusing here. And i any case, it’s often the sudden realisation of how ridiculous he’s being that raises the chuckles more than those imaginings themselves.

Whether this West End run actually brings him more fans remains to be seen, but it’ll certainly reinforce his reputation for gleeful, freewheeling silliness.

Skip to page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Ross Nobles is one of the greatest comedians around. He always has me doubled up in laughter. Don't know how anyone cannot think he is funny. Keep up the good work Ross!.

Sophie, September 2011

Saw Ross Noble and friends at Aldershot: Ross turned up wasted, slurring words, and improvised 99% of the show. Billed to compere the evening which two other new acts, he ended up waffling on for an hour and a half including; 40 minutes of wheelchair related comedy, yes really, much of which was just bad taste, also clumsily running with other weak jokes for long periods of time. I have seen him before and found him very funny, but on this he occasion was cringeworthy. Ross had moments but they were few, and were completely overshadowed. The only saving grace was Sarah Kendall who was fresh, witty and very funny. Unfortunately this moment was sandwiched by Ross’s ramblings, the likes of which I could have got for free in the local Wetherspoons. It left nothing but an overwhelming sense of disappointment.

Showbizjonny, July 2011

Genius

hammy, April 2011

Saw Ross last night in Belfast,I will go to more of his shows in the futureT ell him this is from Yoda.

Ronnie Robinson, November 2010

Saw Ross in Grimsby last night and he stormed it. Absolutely incredible routines and great crowd work. You can barely spot where the routine end and the improv begins. An inspiration to idiots like me who want to do stand-up even half as good as he does.

Lukas Wild, October 2010

just seen him in Wolverhampton. Best stand up comic I have seen in years.best value for money we will be going to see him again hopefully in london. Seeing someone like ross makes us wonder why he isn't on our telly with his own show when we watch all the crap that is being put on our telly. 10 out of 10.

sarah, October 2010

Saw Ross Noble this week in Swindon and was disappointed. Found myself yawning and looking at my watch well before the end of the lengthy show. 15 minutes on Avatar is 14 minutes too long for the large number of people in the audience who haven't seen it, us included. Some of the extended gurning and lumbering around the stage would have been better suited to an audience of seven year olds.

Paul, September 2010

I don't find him funny at all. Why alot of people do God only knows!

Rosie, October 2009

Skip to page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8