On Dave's One Night Stand

April 2011

More Simon Evans videos

Simon Evans: Fringe Magnet
Live Review

As his promotional material says: ‘old “no eyes” is back’. Indeed it's been seven years since this dry stalwart of the circuit has graced the Fringe. Not a great deal about him has changed since then, though, and luckily this is more of a blessing than a curse.

Though some of his refrains sound very familiar (including his trademark joke about his educated accent and some witheringly dismissive material about Geordies), the 45-year-old is fresh enough to pass muster tonight, with punchlines that always catch you out by coming up on the inside.

In fact, he is quite ambitious about some routines, most notably attacking the advertising campaigns of phone companies, suggesting that corporations are the new orthodoxy and the victims of their ad campaigns – the perceived uncool people – should fight back.

It might sound weighty and it is a routine that moves slightly away from the usual domestic or topical stimulus Evans uses to launch his sly wit. But he manages to make his valid point and get a laugh. His weary, laconic world view fits perfectly with this routine of course, though he steps out of the joke to give more than a comedian's answer.

While some of his cheek, notably that Geordie sections, seems downright unreconstructed you begin to see fairly early on that he is disparaging in an equal opportunities way, a point reinforced at the end when he reads from a guest book of comments about himself.

My own parting comment would be that any uneven moments are forgotten as you succumb to Evans's train of thought, assured that his keen (if tiny) eye will give you a good belly laugh soon enough.

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Simon Evans credits his audience with some intelligence. Not that attending one of his performances is taxing, but pay him a bit of attention and your investment is rewarded in spades.rnrnHe disproves the theory that analysing a joke is like dissecting a frog - you understand it but it doesn't work any more. He tells a simple gag, and pulls every line apart, pointing out its absurdity and illogic, and in the process you get five punchlines for the price of one. His material works on - forgive the cliché - a number of levels; it's comedy about comedy, it's about how we react to jokes, and above all, it's flat-out funny.

Steve, September 2012

I'd previously seen Simon as a support act and was pleased to see that he was doing a solo show locally. As brilliant as he was as a support he works harder when he's the main act to engage with the audience and endear himself to them. Although he repeated elements of the act I'd seen previously that had been less than a year before this show it was a hilarious night out. He replied to my tweet too.

Patrick, August 2012

Saw Simon a few years ago when he was supporting Lee Mack and absolutely loved him. Perhaps even more than the main act itself. Very intelligent comedy that didnt feel patronising like some other similar comics around do. Been follwing him through various media since and he just gets better for me. Was lucky enough to be bought tickets to see him at Leeds City Varieties in November and safe to say i cant wait.For me quite a unique stand up in this time where so many are the same. Top top comedian!

Chris Jones, August 2012

As a promoter, regularly booking top acts, I've had the pleasure of booking Simon Evans twice. Both times he was fantastic, and held the room in the palm of his hand. Certainly my audience never thought he was racist...I've had a number of people asking me to re-book him. He's superb, highly recommended and I shall be re-booking him for next year.

Jan Jack, August 2012

Fantastic stage presence and superb delivery. An absolute must see for comedy fans!!

James M, August 2012

This show was as dated as it was insulting. Comedy is about variety. The more repetitive it was the more offensive it felt. I have lived in this country and felt part of it for 37 years until Friday night. It made me feel sick. I do not have a problem with well constructed and clever racial jokes which laugh at all participants but this was an all out attack on Wales as a single country. The problem was it was all about sheep and singing and, wait for it... the Severn Bridge. I had that in the playground at primary school. This would also suggest that I am hardened to these types of jokes so why did he make me feel so bad – because he really believed what he was saying . Racism is never acceptable against ethnic minorities but is it not considered racism if it is anti-Welsh, Irish or Scottish?

Jon, February 2012

Boring anti Welsh jokes (only having a go at the Welsh, not balanced at all), heard the several of the other jokes previously. Obviously peddling the same routine around the country. Newsflash he's not made it past Civic Hall venues because he hasn't written any new gags in a long time. The Alf Garnett school of comedy (with a middle class twist) isn't going to appeal to a wider audience. Would like to see him deliver the routine that we were unfortunate to watch in Wrexham, now that I'd definitely pay to see! The more mainstream comedians who (usually) get away with offending people (Frankie Boyle and Jimmy Carr and co.) do so because they offend everyone equally and make it clear that it's just a joke. Watching a guy who clearly believes that he levitates somewhere above his audience is fine as long as it's funny and original, having ago at a single country (and picking the Welsh) just smacks of an easy target. Must try harder to make it further than he has.

Dawn, February 2012

Saw this 'comedian' last night, think Michael McIntyre for the intellectually challenged and you have the standard. Some of the jokes were so old they had cobwebs, the numerous 'jokes' about Welsh people would be offensive if they weren't being delivered by an embarrassing hooray henry wanabe

Ruby, February 2012

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