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Georgia-born Hunter first made his mark on the UK circuit in 1998, when he was a finalist in So You Think You're Funny. He has been appearing in his own acclaimed one-man shows at the Edinburgh Fringe since 2002, when I Said What I Said was nominated for the best newcomer Perrier. He was nominated for the main prize in 2003 for White Woman and 2005 for A Mystery Wrapped In A Nigga. He was also nominated for best headliner in the Chortle Awards in 2004 and 2007.

Laughs In The Park
Live Review
St Albans Verulamium Park

It was a brave idea… which everyone knows is usually a euphemism for ‘stupid’. Bring 66 trucks worth of kit to a park in the Home Counties and set up Britain’s first outdoor comedy festival, with not even a tent for cover. Oh, and hold it in late September, when nights aren’t exactly known for being balmy.

But in the end, the experiment worked, albeit on the whim of the elements. With temperatures at shiver-inducing 9C or so, these wasn’t the most comfortable conditions – but the rain held off, as that could so easily have rendered Laughs In The Park a distinctly miserable experience for the 5,000 or so people the site holds each night.

Producer Mick Perrin did everything in his power to ensure the experience worked. The staging was bold but effective, a triptych of pin-sharp giant screens framing the miniscule figure centre stage in a set-up Citizen Kane would envy, especially the vertical ones either side. And the sound was as precise as the images, with a clarity even purpose-built arenas often fail to deliver.

Enough about the technology; as the line-up was quite some draw: Eddie Izzard, Dylan Moran and Reginald D Hunter sharing the same bill over three nights. Under a bright full moon and menacing clouds, Izzard introduced each section and, naturally, headlined. The council-imposed curfew meant he had to limit his material; and in the end had to confine himself to the entirety of history, from dinosaurs to Dickens… even if he’s a little sketchy on some of the finer details.

As usual, he tackled big ideas through wonderfully daft comedy – a winning mix of steely rationalism with flighty surrealism. His assertion that God must be a human invention since he post-dates language is made by demonstrating how the Ten Commandments would be communicated by charade, for instance. On a similarly biblical theme, his demolition of the Noah’s Ark myth is masterful, knocking Ricky Gervais’s version of same into a cocked hat.

Izzard famously once performed a gig in French, and tonight he attempted another language – Latin, although he hasn’t really done his homework and takes diabolical liberties with the vocabulary. It’s a sublimely funny segment, standing out even among the high standard of Izzard’s recent return to form, ably continued tonight.

Dylan Moran opened the evening. It seems to have been too long since we’ve seen him on stage, though he toured just a couple of years ago. That’s probably because the opinionated grumbler always has something to say, so it’s unlikely to imagine anyone could have too much Moran.

His insights tonight covered the haphazard way we pair off into couples, the lack of respect he gets from his listless children, and the reality of a mature relationship – described with such perfect frustrated aggression to match his emotions.

The way he expresses such thoughts are so distinctively precise, even though they are delivered with his apparently languid style. He frequently appears to fluster around in a struggle for the metaphor, before barking out something apparently random, but that actually succinctly describes the ridiculousness of the human condition. Or at least his condition, as a sour grouch who wants to be left alone in quiet respect that he’s never going to get. He’s not exactly a rock-and-roll comic, but he had the audience – of maybe three-quarters capacity – hanging on his every word.

On this peculiarly illustrious bill, Reginald D Hunter may have been the least high-profile, but he brought his A-game to the park, and also held the audience rapt by his provocative philosophising. His shtick of couching contentious opinions in the bubble-wrap of Deep South charm, his arguments justified with a calmly logical insight, makes for fascinating listening.

His rich voice evokes late nights by the campfire – and boy, could we have done with one of those on the edge of St Albans tonight – as he puts forth his witty opinions on the world, by which I largely mean ‘women’, in a form of verbal essay. The process throws up some pithily quotable aphorisms, backed up by plenty of thought-provoking supporting evidence, making Hunter another fine choice for this unique bill.

Could Laughs In The Park indicate the next stage in the comedy boom, as it encroaches ever further into territories traditionally occupied by music? Quite possibly; if you could ensure future festival-style shows have a line-up as strong as this. And, of course, if you can get good, or at least not dismal, weather.

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I saw Reggie at St Georges Hall, Bradford on Saturday 8th October. nlike the main reviewer, we got a shorter 60 minute set – one that left me feeling short changed, & short on laughs. Certain threads were amusing but ended almost mid stream – thinking that they would all be brought together for a clever finale… but no, they just ended. His parting comment ('I think I have fulfilled my contractual obligations') would have been funny after a good strong performance, but after his offering felt a bit like two fingers being stuck up as he promptly vacated the stage, to polite applause.

Darren, October 2011

Saw him perform last night. He spends a lot of time talking about race related issues. Entertaining, yes, but not really funny. Light-weight. His sidekick Steve is better. Overall, my partner and I were rather disappointed; not worth the money in our opinion.

Frank, November 2010

Just been reading back some of the older comments. I wonder how 'nino' has been getting on with watching stand-up since 2008. Anyone who can make a comment as daft as 'Jokes about rape and paedophilla are really not funny nor intelligent' has hopefully found something else for his entertainment. To suggest topics are off limits because they might be contentious indicates 'nino' doesn't recognise that it takes an intelligent mind to structure jokes on tough subjects. If it's safe gags you want, Nino, try Tim Vine!

Sue - Whitstable, August 2010

Just seen Reg performing his new tour in King's Lynn. He was absolutely spot-on from beginning to end, genuine stand-up comedian, no gags, all quality material. I was totally blown away, and not at all disappointed. Well worth the ticket price. He is topical yet philosophical, charismatic and even touching at times, but all made for a wonderful night with many laughs. I will definitely go to see him again.

Emma, June 2010

Saw Reg last night, very clever and funny. Got through the annoying women giggling very well and picked the momentum up quickly. Thoroughly enjoyed myself

Kate, May 2010

Went to see Reggie in Reading Concert hall on 7 May 2010 expecting comedy. Reggie informed us at the start that this was not TV but was his stand-up act which he considers to be art. OK. He then proceeded to tell anecdotes in a lecturing style with the odd bit of humour in there with not many laughs. Anecdotes followed often skirting controversial subjects eg rape, to try and prove a point which may have been meant to ironically funny. Sometimes clever, sometimes student bore, generally not funny. Reg, this was neither art nor comedy. It was a lecture and the kind of lecture you hear in any student common room. This is not what I expected or wanted. Can I have my money back?

Dave Rotweiler, May 2010

Reg - where were you? We booked to see you at Ashby de la Zouch Lyric rooms but you didnt turn up!

Rosie, October 2009

Edinburgh Fringe 2009 show was woeful. Arrived on stage 20 minutes late, and even then didn't have enough material to fill the remaining 40 minutes. Audience was both bemused and embarrassed. He's a funny guy when delivering one-liners on TV panel shows, but as a stand-up he wins the Fringe 2009 award for the Biggest Disappointment/

Mr Flay, August 2009

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