Alexis Dubus: A R*ddy Brief History Of Swearing

Note: This review is from 2008

Review by Steve Bennett

Swearing: it is big and it is clever, and in the capable hands of the affable Alexis Dubus it is breezily funny, too.

This is a sort of live profanisaurus; an upbeat guide to all things expletive, ranging from etymology to practical examples of their uses in everything from Shakespeare to Billy Connolly. It’s a very well-researched piece, packed-full of quirky trivia about your favourite four-letter words, making it as informative as it is funny.

The cunning linguist runs down a list of the top 25 most offensive swearwords, as determined by the BBC, and gives us hilarious examples of foreign curses and their bizarre literal translations. And you’ll never call a jellyfish a jellyfish once you learn what they’re called in Welsh.

Dubus is a energetic guide, and we crash through a huge amount of gags and information in the hour. He keeps the tone light and cheerful – or as light as a man constantly swearing can ever be – and the hour whips by.

Frankly, if you don’t enjoy this show, you’re a fucking cocksucker.

Reviewed by: Steve Bennett

Review date: 1 Jan 2008
Reviewed by: Steve Bennett

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